Adult social care and support

Reporting safeguarding concerns

This page is for telling us if you have concerns about an adult at risk.

For other concerns you can report:

Professionals must use our online safeguarding referral form.

Contents

If you are at risk of abuse or neglect, or you suspect someone else is, please don’t ignore it.

If the abuse you have seen is a crime, report it to Surrey Police:

In an emergency, or if you suspect someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

What is safeguarding

Safeguarding is about keeping adults at risk safe from neglect and abuse. See What is abuse to see what we mean by abuse.

It is everyone’s business and not just the responsibility of the local authority or police. Our role is to coordinate with other health and social care organisations to keep people safe. If you are a professional making a referral, consider what you can do to support the adult.

Who is an adult at risk?

An adult at risk is someone who:

This includes disabled people or people with mental health issues and unpaid carers if they have care and support needs.

We can take safeguarding referrals for adults at risk only. Find out where you can report other concerns:

How to report your safeguarding concerns

Note: professionals must use our online safeguarding referral form.

For emergency situations outside our standard lines hours:

  • Telephone: 01483 517 898 (If this number is not working, please use the email address below)
  • Email: edt.ssd@surreycc.gov.uk
  • Textphone (via Relay UK): 18001 01483 517898
  • Text (SMS): 07800000388 (for the deaf or hard of hearing)

When leaving a message (by phone or email), please include your name, contact number, and whether your concern is about a child or an adult.

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.

Who can report abuse

Anyone can refer a safeguarding concern. This includes:

  • friends and family
  • carers
  • a professional working with adults with care and support needs
  • the adult at risk

We usually need permission from the adult at risk to share their personal information. If you are a professional and cannot provide this, you must explain why. If you do not, we may not be able to accept the referral.

We assume that adults can make their own decisions unless it is clearly shown that they cannot. See the Mental Capacity Act 2005. For this reason, you should ask for consent whenever you can.

Referring without consent is sometimes allowed for example if:

  • the adult refuses
  • they cannot understand the risks
  • asking for consent would make things more dangerous

In these cases, professionals can refer without permission to help keep the adult or others safe.

What happens when you report abuse

We will:

  • check for any immediate danger
  • listen to you and treat your concerns as important
  • respond with care
  • talk to the police if we think a crime may have happened
  • investigate the concerns and make further enquiries
  • think about what the adult wants
  • make a plan to help keep them safe

We will let you know the outcome of the referral. We aim to do this within 2 working days. If the referral progresses to an enquiry we will keep you updated. If we cannot share information because of privacy concerns, we will let you know.

Action may be taken against the person causing them harm.

Find out what safeguarding means

What is abuse?

Abuse can take many forms including:

physical abuse:

  • hitting
  • slapping
  • pushing
  • kicking
  • holding someone down

sexual abuse:

  • sexual assault
  • any sexual act without consent
  • pressured into saying yes

psychological abuse:

  • shouting, bullying or making fun of someone
  • threats of harm
  • control through fear

financial or material abuse:

  • stealing
  • fraud
  • taking advantage of someone
  • pressure to change a will
  • the wrong or unfair use of someone’s things or money

neglect:

  • ignoring medical or physical care needs
  • not letting someone get the care or education they need
  • using medicine in the wrong way
  • not giving enough food

discrimination or ill treatment because of a person's:

  • age
  • gender
  • sexuality
  • disability
  • race
  • religious belief

modern slavery:

  • human trafficking
  • forced labour

How to report other concerns

Reporting domestic abuse concerns

You should make your referral to Surrey Police. Report on 101, or 999 if you or another adult is at immediate risk of harm.

Getting support for domestic abuse

Your Sanctuary offers advice and support to people experiencing domestic abuse.

  • Telephone: 01483 776 822 (Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm)
  • Website: Online chat (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm)

You can also find Support organisations for victims of domestic violence from Surrey Police.

For professionals

Professionals should consider their duty to refer to Multi agency risk assessment conference (MARAC). See Multi agency risk assessment conferences.

Self-neglect or hoarding

Under safeguarding, we can only act if the concerns about self-neglect or hoarding are very serious and the person is at risk. See SSAB Policy and Procedures, Chapter 5 (for professionals only).

If the situation is not an emergency, consider making a referral for care and support needs assessment instead. We can carry out this assessment if there are serious concerns about their wellbeing without the adult’s consent. We may take action to help keep them safe.

Housing or healthcare concerns

We cannot provide housing or healthcare services.

For housing enquiries, contact your district or borough housing department. Find your local council using your postcode.

Professionals who know a person at risk of homelessness or who are homeless must consider their duty to refer.

For physical or mental health concerns, speak to the GP first or call 999 in a medical emergency.

Getting support for a mental health crisis

If the person is experiencing a mental health crisis, or is at risk of death by suicide, see Dealing with a mental health crisis.

We do not provide clinical mental health care services like therapy or medication. If you need help:

Carers without care and support needs

If you are concerned about a carer who does not have care or support needs, consider asking for a carer’s assessment.

Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB)

Every area must have a Safeguarding Adults Board. The Board works with many agencies to help keep adults safe across Surrey.

Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board

Surrey Safeguarding Adults good practice guidance

We want our staff and partners to have the tools they need to spot worries early and support adults well.

Surrey safeguarding adults policy and procedures

In this section

Did you find this information helpful?

Rating Did you find the information helpful?

We aren't able to reply to individual comments, so please don't include any personal details.