Safeguarding
At Home Group we take safeguarding concerns very seriously and recognise that Safeguarding is everyone's business. We believe every person has the right to live in safety and free from abuse, harm, and neglect.
What do we mean by safeguarding?
Safeguarding is protecting a child, young person or adult’s health, wellbeing and human right to live in safety free from harm, abuse and neglect.
If you are experiencing this, or have concerns about an adult or child, it is important to report your concerns and to know there is support available.
Abuse is the violation of a person’s human / civil rights and to treat them badly.
Types of abuse include:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Psychological / emotional abuse
- Financial or material abuse
- Domestic abuse
- Discriminatory abuse
- Modern slavery
- Organisational / institutional abuse
- Neglect or acts of omission
- Self-neglect
Harm can be psychological and/or physical.
Neglect can be failing to provide the care and support someone needs, which results in harm.
We also consider self neglect, where someone is unable to look after their own care and wellbeing, which can also lead to harm.
Harm or abuse can happen to anyone but you or others may be more at risk if you:
- Are older / frail
- Have a physical or sensory impairment
- Have a learning disability
- Are under the age of 18
- Have a mental health condition
- Have communication difficulties
Some individuals can be more vulnerable to abuse, such as those with one or more Protected Characteristic of:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex and/or sexual orientation
What signs should I look out for?
There are lots of signs to look out for which could be a sign that someone is experiencing abuse, harm or neglect.
These are some of the possible signs which may indicate there is a safeguarding concern:
- Frequent injuries
- Unexplained falls
- Subdued or changed behaviour in the presence of a particular person
- Signs of malnutrition, (hunger and dehydration)
- Isolated and withdrawn
- Physical evidence of violence (i.e., bruising, cuts and broken bones)
- Self-harming
- Fear of receiving help with personal care
- Low self-esteem
- A change of appetite (weight gain/loss)
- Signs of distress (tearfulness / anger / aggression)
- Unexplained lack of money / sign of financial hardship
- Rent arrears and eviction notices
- Unnecessary property repairs
- Always wearing the same clothes
- Poor personal hygiene
- Dirty or unhygienic home
- Pressure sores / ulcers
- Appearing frightened
- No visitors
- Hoarding
- Unwillingness / inability to take medication
- Medication being withheld by others
You can find out more from the Social Care Institute for Excellence.
If you are experiencing abuse, harm or neglect or you think someone else is, it’s important to tell someone about this.
There is help available and by reporting it you may be able to prevent this from happening.
If you’re in immediate danger contact the police by calling 999.
If you are unable to speak in this situation the police have The Silent Solution. Once the operator answers the call you can type 55 on your keypad so they know you’re unable to speak.
How to make a silent 999 call | Metropolitan Police
If there is no immediate danger you can also report a crime to police by calling 101.
You can share safeguarding concerns for a child, young person or adult by contacting your local council. They’ll have a dedicated team for safeguarding children and young people and a team for safeguarding adults.
Your local council will give you information on how to report this this, either online or over the phone so you can speak to someone. They will take your concerns seriously and have a duty to look into what you’ve raised.
- Find your local council - GOV.UK England
- Find social work and social care services - mygov.scot Scotland
- If you have concerns about a child you can also contact NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or visit the NSPCC website
Contact us
If you are concerned about a Home Group customer, their family or their visitors you can also report your concerns to us.
We will respond to all safeguarding concerns. Where necessary we will work with other agencies to make reports and referrals where appropriate, which may also include Social Services and the Police.
- Money, benefits and wellbeing advice home
- Energy saving tips
- Eating on a budget
- Financial inclusion team
- Wellbeing advice
- Debt support
- Domestic abuse
- Bedroom tax
- Benefit cap
- Benefit calculator
- Budgeting tool
- Entitled to fair processing notice
- Help with your energy bills
- Housing Benefit
- Legal advice
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Redundancy support
- Safeguarding
- Savings and discount schemes
- State Pension age benefits
- Universal Credit
- Universal Credit: updating rent and service charges
- Utility bill support
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