Swindon Safeguarding Partnership

Who Does Adult Safeguarding Support?

Adult safeguarding supports and protects the following:

• Adults who have needs for care and support (whether or not Swindon Borough Council is meeting any of those needs).
• Adults who are experiencing, or are at risk of, abuse or neglect.
• Adults who are unable to protect themselves against abuse, neglect, or the risk of it.

Types of Abuse

Abuse is a violation of an individual's human and civil rights by any other person or persons. It can take many forms.

While the list below is not exhaustive, examples include:

• Physical Abuse: Hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, inappropriate restraint, or inappropriate sanctions.
• Discriminatory Abuse: Abuse based on a person's ethnic origin, religion, language, age, sexuality, gender, or disability.
• Domestic Abuse: Psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse, or so-called "honour-based violence" of someone with care and support needs.
• Psychological Abuse: Verbal abuse, humiliation, bullying, or the use of threats.
• Financial or Material Abuse: Theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property, inheritance, or financial transactions; misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.
• Sexual Abuse: Direct or indirect sexual activity where the vulnerable adult cannot, or does not, give their consent.
• Neglect or Acts of Omission: Repeated deprivation of help that an adult at risk needs, which, if withdrawn, will cause harm.
• Self-Neglect: Neglecting personal hygiene, health, or surroundings, including hoarding behaviour.
• Modern Slavery: Encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and domestic servitude, where individuals are coerced, deceived, or forced into abuse and inhumane treatment.
• Organisational Abuse: Neglect and poor care practice in institutions or care settings, or care provided in one's own home. It can involve ongoing ill-treatment due to inadequate structures, policies, processes, and practices.

Possible Types of Abuser

Examples of potential abusers include:

• A partner, child, relative, or friend.
• A paid or volunteer carer.
• A health, social care, or other worker.

In reality, it could be anyone!

Reporting Abuse

You can report abuse in the following ways:

Complete an online form:

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults Online Referral Form

• If the adult is in immediate danger, in need of medical attention, or if a crime has been committed, contact the Emergency Services (Police and/or Ambulance Service).

Alternatively, contact one of the following agencies depending on the circumstances:

Adult Safeguarding Team, Swindon Borough Council

Tel: 01793 463555
Email: adultsafeguarding@swindon.gov.uk
(During office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm).

Safeguarding Adults Investigation Team, Wiltshire Police

Tel: 01380 826350
(During office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm).

Out-of-Hours Emergency Duty Service

The emergency duty service is for reporting safeguarding concerns that require urgent action outside normal working hours. Non-urgent concerns should be forwarded to the Adult Safeguarding Team at adultsafeguarding@swindon.gov.uk, which will be processed on the next working day.

Tel: 01793 436699

Police Non-Emergency

Tel: 101