Safeguarding adults is everybody’s
business! 
Safeguarding adults means helping
vulnerable adults live free from abuse and neglect. This used to be
called 'adult protection'.
What is a 'vulnerable' adult?
Vulnerable adults are people who are
vulnerable because of their mental health, physical or learning
disability, age or illness. They may find it difficult to protect
themselves from abuse. Everybody can help vulnerable adults to live
free from harm!
What is abuse?
Abuse is when someone hurts you or treats you badly. Abuse is
always wrong. Abuse can be:
Physical – someone hurting you – hitting,
slapping, biting, kicking, pinching.
Sexual – someone touching you in ways you do
not like or want or kissing you or wanting sex from you when you do
not want it.
Emotional – someone talking to you in an unkind
way – teasing, threatening, swearing, ignoring, shouting, calling
you stupid.
Financial – someone taking
your money or belongings.
What is neglect?
This is when people who are supposed to help you don’t look
after you properly. For example, not giving you enough food, not
keeping you warm and safe, not giving you medication or taking you
to the doctor when you are ill.
If you think you are being abused or neglected, you should
tell:
- someone in your family
- a nurse, doctor or social worker
- a member of staff (if you live in a residence with staff caring
for or watching over you)
- a friend or neighbour
- an advocate or support group (Webcas, Samaritans, Crossing
Bridges, Berkshire Women’s Aid)
- or you can telephone one of numbers below:
If you suspect that a vulnerable adult you know is being abused
call:
If you live in
Reading:
0118 937 2478
If you live in West Berkshire:
01635
503050
If you live in
Bracknell:
01344 351500
If you live in South
Oxfordshire: 0845
0507666
If you live in Wokingham:
0118 974 6800
If you live in
Slough: 01753
690400
If you live in Windsor / Maidenhead: 01628 683744
If you think the situation is urgent because someone is
at immediate risk of harm, take yourself out of danger, and dial
999 for the police.