What is Safeguarding adults?
Safeguarding adults is about preventing and responding to allegations of abuse, harm and neglect. We work with local people, our partners and adults who are at risk of harm so people are:
- safe and able to protect themselves from abuse and neglect
- treated fairly and with dignity and respect
- protected when they need to be
- able to easily get the support, protection and services they need
Where there is reasonable cause to believe the adult:
- has care and support needs (as defined by the Care Act 2014).
- is being, or at risk of being, abused or neglected (including self-neglect).
- (because of their care and support needs), is unable to protect themselves.
If there is reasonable cause, the Local Authority has to (under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014) make, or cause another agency to make enquiries about what happened and how we can keep the adult (and any other adults involved), safe.
If you are the adult in question, we always take into account your views, wishes, feelings and beliefs before deciding any action – with a focus on your wellbeing. We work with you to look at the outcome you want to see, such as actions which will help keep you safe.
Sometimes the above is called a Section 42 Enquiry. Telling us about suspected abuse or neglect is also called ‘raising a concern’.
Please don’t worry too much about if your worries will meet the criteria for an enquiry or if the adult has care and support needs. You don’t need to know anything for sure. It’s more important to tell someone – even if Safeguarding Adults is not the best way to help someone, we can still sign-post or give advice.
If you are not worried about abuse or neglect but think someone needs help with their everyday life (or their caring role), please contact the Single Point of Access team via:
- Telephone: 0208 379 1001
- Email: adultsocialcare@enfield.gov.uk
Enfield Council follows the London Multi-Agency Adult Safeguarding Policies and Procedures (London ADASS, 2019).
Enfield have a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) of professionals working together and sharing information. This is so we can provide a good quality and coordinated response to reports of abuse. For more information, see our MASH leaflet.
If you or someone you know is suffering from harm, abuse or exploitation, do not keep silent. Tell someone you trust or complete the online form below.
Factsheets
- Making safeguarding about you
- Financial planning - preventing abuse and fraud
- Preventing abuse - keep yourself safe
- Safe recruitment of a personal assistant
- Safeguarding, technology and you
Further useful documents and links
- ADASS Guidance for professionals on Adult safeguarding and domestic abuse
- Refuge – Support for those experiencing Domestic Abuse.
- Age UK – Staying Safe Guide.
- Mental capacity code of practice.
- Enfield Council’s Self neglect and hoarding policy
- London multi-agency policy and procedures
- The Enfield Council Provider concerns policy and procedures
You will be listened to and treated with respect. Do not stay silent.
- Calling 020 8379 3196 (Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm) or call the adult abuse line on 020 8379 5212.
- You can also email on TheMASHTeam@enfield.gov.uk
- If it is an emergency, always call 999.
We do work with Police and other agencies around Safeguarding Adults enquiries, however, if you want an incident to be investigated as a crime, it is always a good idea to make contact with Police directly (in a non-emergency, please call 101 or visit your local Police Station as well as raising a concern with the Local Authority as this prevents delays). The Police will want to hear directly from you.
For more information about how we handle Safeguarding Adults or Section 42 Enquiries, please check out the Abuse – recognise it, report it page .
We also have a leaflet called Say No to Abuse! which explains in simple language what abuse is and how to report it.
It is better to prevent abuse from happening in the first place. There are steps you can take to help reduce the risk of abuse such as writing a will, keeping touch with friends or family, accepting support, and using new types of technology. We have five factsheets on different areas where we can help to prevent abuse and neglect. There are also various tips, leaflets and links for residents of Enfield around the Safeguarding section of MyLife.