Safeguarding Adults

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust follows The Care Act 2015. This provides a clear framework for how everyone working in health and care should protect adults at risk of abuse or neglect.

At the trust we work closely with the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board (TSAB) to make sure all adults in Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool can live independently and safely.

TSAB is the legal body that sets the framework for adult safeguarding. Our Trust signs up to all of the policies and procedures put in place by the board.

Forms of abuse

There are many different kinds of abuse and our safeguarding team work hard to make sure that staff throughout the Trust know how to spot and report the forms of abuse.

The forms of abuse are:

• Physical abuse – being hit, slapped or punched.
• Psychological or emotional abuse – intimidation, threats of harm or controlling behaviour.
• Sexual abuse – rape, sexual harassment or sexual acts when an adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.
• Financial or material abuse – theft or misuse of someone’s money, possessions or property.
• Domestic abuse – abuse within a current or past intimate relationship or between family members. Includes the other forms of abuse listed as well as honour-based violence.
• Neglect – not providing food, shelter or medical care.
• Self-neglect – not looking after yourself by neglecting your own personal hygiene, health and surroundings.
• Discriminatory abuse – harassment because of race, gender, age, disability, sexuality or religion.
• Organisational abuse – neglect and poor practice within a health or car setting, including hospitals.
• Modern slavery – human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude.

Please note that the example given above are not exhaustive and throughout the Trust we recognise other actions that fall under the categories of abuse.

How can you report abuse?

If it is not an emergency you can report very serious abuse and neglect by calling 101 or by filling in a TSAB concern form and returning to your local authority.

If you are worried or want to talk to someone, help is available with your local social care service and nearby charities. Please see our list of contacts for more information.

Get Well for Winter

‘Get Well for Winter’ is a charity-led project aimed at people with learning disabilities and anybody who supports them.

Based throughout the North East and Cumbria, the programme is run by Skills For People and promotes health, wellbeing and support to help adults with disabilities get ready and keep well throughout the colder months.

Regular updates can be found in their weekly bulletins.

Local authority contacts

Other Contacts