Report abuse of an adult

If you think an adult is at risk of abuse or is being abused, please follow the information below for support and guidance.

In case of an emergency

If you think someone is in immediate danger or a crime has been committed, please call 999.

Our responsibilities

The Care Act 2014 section 42 requires local authorities to make enquiries, or to ask others to make enquiries, where they reasonably suspect that an adult in their area with care and support needs is at risk of abuse or neglect and is unable to protect himself/herself.The purpose of the enquiry will be to establish what, if any, action is required.

Southend Safeguarding Adults Partnership

The Safeguarding Southend Partnership hold a statutory role in supporting, coordinating and overseeing the delivery and quality of multi-agency adult safeguarding activity within the city of Southend.

The Partnership's Adult's website provides a wide range of information on their work. It also includes published reports, information and guidance.

Safeguarding children

All the key child protection policies and guidance that agencies must follow to keep children safe in Southend are available on the Children's Services website.

The website explains what is expected of everybody when there is a concern about a child's safety, what they should do, who they should contact and how.

The procedures apply to all children up to the age of 18 years, including unborn babies.

How do you know if someone is being abused?

There are many different types of abuse, some of which can be difficult to spot. The Southend, Essex and Thurrock (SET) Safeguarding Adults Guidelines provides more information.

Listed below are examples of what could be classed as abuse:

• physical consists of assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint, inappropriate physical sanctions
• domestic abuse consists of emotional, financial, sexual, psychological, physical or so-called ‘honour' based violence, which takes place between people who are personally connected, such as current or ex intimate partners or family members
• sexual abuse is any sexual act that an adult has not consented to or was pressured into consenting
• psychological/emotional abuse is when someone experiences verbal abuse or threatening behaviour, controlling, blaming, humiliation or intimidation, or abandonment
• financial or material abuse can be the prevention of an adult from accessing their possessions, or money, or their home. It can also include stealing a person's
• money or coercion in relation to their financial affairs or arrangements
• modern slavery results in people being trafficked, sex work, domestic servitude or used as forced labour
• discriminatory abuse can be harassment, slurs, comments that relate to an adult's ability, disability, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, married or civil partnerships, cultural background or race, or their age
• neglect – this can be both emotional and physical and examples could be stopping someone from making their own choices or decisions, ignoring medical, emotional, or physical health needs, fair to access appropriate health, care and support, not providing enough food or medication, or not keeping a person warm and clean
• self-neglect - a wide range of behaviour; neglecting to care for one's personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding
• organisational abuse – wide ranging; can look like behaviours that discourage visits or the involvement of relatives or friends. Rigid regimes, poor environment, staffing issues, inappropriate use of restraints, ignoring privacy and lack of dignity in care, inadequate care and support, failure to deal with issues or concerns

Reporting abuse of an adult

If you suspect an adult is being abused but does not require you to call 999 or report a crime on 101, you can raise a concern electronically.

Please select this button to register to use the Safeguarding Portal.

If you do not have access to the Internet, please call our Contact Centre on 01702 215008. If you are unable to raise your concerns using our online portal, you can ring Adult Social Care via our Contact Centre on 01702 215008.

Please note that portal referrals are not monitored outside of business hours. You are also able to raise a concern anonymously, electronically or by phone.

Your information is stored securely in accordance with Southend-on-Sea City Council's Adult Social Care Privacy Notice: Privacy notices – Southend-on-Sea City Council

What happens once you have raised your concern?

We will take the following steps upon receipt of your referral:

• if we feel that the person is in immediate danger, or that a crime is taking place, we will contact the police immediately
• we will review your concern, and it will be passed to the most appropriate team
• we will work with the person to understand what they want, and if required, put actions in place to protect the person from harm

Every safeguarding situation is different, and where we can, we will fully respect the person's wishes. If the person at risk does not want information to be shared, we are unable to contact you with an update.

Reporting the abuse of a child or young person (under the age of 18)

If you suspect a child or young person who is under the age of 18 is being abused but does not require you to call 999 or report a crime on 101, you can find out more about raising a concern with Children's Services.