Safeguarding
Warwickshire Child and Family Wellbeing is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people and protecting them from the risk of harm. To achieve this, we have dedicated national and local Safeguarding Adults and Children’s Leads. Our policies, guidance and practices reflect statutory, national and local safeguarding requirements. You can find out more about these safeguarding requirements by going to the Warwickshire County Council website.
Warwickshire Child and Family Wellbeing is provided by HCRG Care Group on behalf of Warwickshire County Council. All agencies involved in providing care and support for children and adults work together to respond in a coordinated way to cases of suspected harm or abuse of adults. In partnership with Warwickshire County Council, our safeguarding teams will investigate any safeguarding concerns. In doing this we aim to ensure that people’s rights are respected and, where appropriate, advice, help and protection will be offered.
Safeguarding children
Warwickshire County Council’s safeguarding team are responsible for all concerns regarding the welfare of children. If you have concerns that a child is suffering any form of abuse, neglect or cruelty contact the Warwickshire Children and Families Family Connect immediately by calling 01926 414144. Lines are open Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5.30pm, Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm.
If you need to get in touch out of usual office hours, please contact the Emergency Duty Team immediately by calling 01926 886922.
If you think that a child is at immediate risk, contact the Police immediately by calling 999.
Safeguarding adults
‘Safeguarding adults’ means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. Any adult at risk of abuse or neglect should be able to access appropriate help to address concerns and to enable them to live a life free from violence and abuse whilst remaining involved and at the centre of all decision making.
Under section 42 of the Care Act 2014, safeguarding duties apply to any adult (18 years of age and over) who has needs for care and support (whether or not those needs are currently being met)
- Is experiencing, or is at risk of abuse or neglect
- Is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect
There is a duty to ensure that safeguarding enquiries will be made for any adult referred who meet the criteria.
How to raise a safeguarding concern
If you are concerned that a vulnerable adult is at risk of abuse, harm or neglect, please contact Warwickshire County Council Social Care and Support on: 01926 412080. Their social care and support teams can offer advice and support to you and, where necessary, arrange appropriate services.
To report a crime or raise a concern about abuse with Warwickshire Police, you can phone non-emergency number on: 101. But if it is an emergency always dial: 999
Our commitment to you
We will work in close collaboration with other agencies to fulfil our responsibilities to vulnerable adults, to prevent both the risk and the experience of abuse or neglect.
For the adult at risk of harm, we will:
- Ensure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted and that the adult’s wishes, feelings and beliefs are always at the centre of decision making, ensuring that safeguarding is made personal to them.
- Ensure that all safeguarding actions will be led by the adult at risk
- Respond to the safeguarding concern or alert in a timely way, ensuring that concerns are handled sensitively
- Where possible, address what has caused the abuse or neglect and discuss with the adult how we can help them to prevent harm or abuse happening again
- Ensure that the adult is supported by family, friends or an independent person such as an advocate if that is appropriate
- Provide support for adults that do not have mental capacity to make specific decisions around safeguarding and protecting themselves from harm through a “Best Interest” decision, providing the adult with independent support