Safeguarding Adults and Children

We aim to protect vulnerable adults and children from abuse.  If you think you, or someone you know, are being abused, we can help.

Abuse could be:

• Physical - including hitting, slapping and punching
• Sexual - including rape and other sexual acts to which the person has not given their consent to
• Emotional/psychological - including threats and humiliation
• Financial - including theft, deception and withholding what belongs to you
• Neglect - including being left without food, heating or personal care
• Discriminatory (including hate crime) - this can include being treated unfairly because of your age, gender, race, culture, disability, background, sexuality or illness
• Risk of abuse - where abuse or neglect is likely to occur.

Who is classed as a vulnerable person?

Defining who is classed as vulnerable is not straightforward and it would be incorrect to assume that every elderly person is vulnerable. The government defines a vulnerable adult as someone who is 18 years of age and over and:

• is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who
• is or may be unable to take care of themselves, or unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.

We have a Policy for Supporting Vulnerable People, which sets out our approach to identifying and supporting vulnerable adults in North East Derbyshire.  We are also a member of the Derbyshire Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Partnership.

Who can I speak to?

If you are concerned that you, or someone you know, may be the victim of abuse, it is important that you speak to someone:

• In an emergency, always dial 999
• Someone you trust who provides you with help/care
• Your GP, Nurse or Home Help
• Someone at a day centre, residential home or another carer
• Contact Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058
• Tell a trusted relative, friend or neighbour
• Tell your Housing Officer when they visit or you can find their contact details on the 'Estate' page of the website.

You can also send us an email to contactus@rykneldhomes.org.uk and a Housing Officer will call you back, provide support and put you in touch with the right people who can help stop the abuse.