People with care and support needs may find it hard to protect themselves from abuse and neglect. This includes people with disabilities, long-term conditions or those who are frail and need extra support to live independently. Other people at risk of abuse are those with mental health issues, who are homeless, experiencing memory loss, or misuse substances. It also includes people who look after someone else, when the care they provide is unpaid. Adult safeguarding aims to protect these vulnerable groups from harm and neglect.
If you are a provider and are concerned about the quality of care, see Reporting care quality concerns.
If you are at risk of abuse or neglect, or you suspect someone else is, report your concerns.
Emergencies
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.
Concerns for an adult
The quickest way to let us know about your concerns is online.
Other ways to contact us
- Telephone: 0300 200 1005
- Textphone (via Text Relay): 18001 0300 200 1005
- SMS: 07527 182 861 (for the deaf or hard of hearing)
- VRS: Sign Language Video Relay Service
For emergency situations outside our standard lines hours.
- Telephone: 01483 517 898
- Email: edt.ssd@surreycc.gov.uk
- Textphone (via Relay UK): 18001 01483 517898
- Text (SMS): 07800000388 (for the deaf or hard of hearing)
Concerns for a child
- Telephone: 0300 470 9100
- Email: cspa@surreycc.gov.uk (available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
- Textphone (via Text Relay): 18001 0300 200 1005
- SMS: 07527 182 861 (for the deaf or hard of hearing)
- VRS: Sign Language Video Relay Service
Concerns of domestic abuse
- Telephone: 01483 776 822 (available 9am to 9pm, 7 days a week)
- Out of hours Telephone: 01483 517 898
- Textphone (via Text Relay): 18001 0300 200 1005
- SMS: 07527 182 861 (for the deaf or hard of hearing)
- VRS: Sign Language Video Relay Service
If you have already been in touch
Please contact your allocated social worker or family support worker directly.
If you wish to report concerns directly to the police, please telephone 101.
What is abuse?
Abuse can take many forms including:
- physical abuse - this includes being hit, shaken, kicked, being locked in a room or inappropriate restraint
- sexual abuse - this includes an adult being made to take part in a sexual activity when they have not given, or are not able to give their consent
- psychological abuse - this includes being shouted at, ridiculed or bullied, threatened with harm, blamed or controlled by intimidation or fear
- financial or material abuse - this includes theft, fraud, financial exploitation and pressure in connection with financial matters or misuse of someone else's finances
- neglect - this includes the failure to provide essential care and support needs that results in someone being harmed
- discrimination - this includes ill treatment, harassment, threats or insults due a person's age, gender, sexuality, disability, race or religious belief
- modern slavery - this incudes human trafficking and forced labour
What happens after you report abuse?
Anyone can refer a safeguarding concern. This includes:
- friends and family
- carers
- a professional working with adults with care and support needs
- someone who thinks they themselves have been abused
If you suspect abuse, reporting it can bring it to an end. It is in everyone's interest to look out for others and protect them from abuse.
When you report abuse we will:
- listen to you
- take your concerns seriously
- respond sensitively
- consider any immediate danger that the vulnerable adult may be in
- talk to the police if it is a criminal matter
- ask about the concerns
- consider the wishes of the adult at risk
- develop a plan with the adult that will keep them safe in the future
Action may be taken against the person causing them harm.
Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB)
Each local authority must have a Safeguarding Adults Board. This multi-agency partnership works with statutory and voluntary agencies at a strategic level. The aim is to make sure that adult safeguarding across Surrey is effective.
See Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board.
Surrey Safeguarding Adults good practice guidance
We are committed to ensuring our staff and our partner agencies have robust tools when raising or responding to safeguarding concerns. This working document sets out what good practice should look like in our safeguarding adults work.