This section will give information on safeguarding processes for adults and children & young people.

Safeguarding adults

The following groups of adults may be defined as vulnerable:

  • People with learning disabilities
  • People with physical disabilities
  • People with mental ill health
  • People with drug or alcohol dependencies
  • People with certain types of physical illness
  • People with dementia
  • People who are frail due to age or other factors
  • People who are homeless

All sexual violence support services offer confidential services but if a vulnerable adult is being abused or likely to suffer abuse, confidentiality can be breached within procedural guidelines.

If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a vulnerable adult the police should be contacted at any time by calling 101 or in emergencies 999.
If you are concerned abut abuse taking place in a care home you can call the Care Quality Commission on 0300 616161

Who can you talk to if you suspect someone is being abused from Devon?

Care Direct 0345 155 1007

customerservicecentrecaredirectteam-mailbox@devon.gov.uk


Torbay and South Devon

Contact the Safeguarding Team on 01803 219700

All professionals are encouraged to discuss concerns openly with:

their agency line manager or supervisor or
a named safeguarding professional in their agency

Questions to ask yourself as a professional:

  • If nothing changes, or if I do nothing, in what way is the adult likely to be harmed?
  • What is it I am most worried about?
  • Is the adult in immediate danger?
  • Have I asked consent to share this information? (and if not, why not?)
  • What is prompting me to ask for help or support now? Has the problem or issue got worse recently?
  • What needs or concerns have been identified?
  • What has already been done to address the needs or concerns? (including actions by other agencies where known).
  • What positive resources and abilities do the child and family currently have?

Risk factors around sexual violence can include:

  • Experiencing more than one assault
  • Repeat victimisation
  • Mental health problems
  • Learning disabilities
  • Drink or drug dependencies
  • Dependant adult
  • Young people
  • Young people at risk of sexual exploitation
  • History of care
  • Young women involved in gang culture
  • Working in the sex industry
  • Homelessness
  • Victim / survivors of domestic violence
  • Patterns of abusive relationships that have become their norm.

How to raise safeguarding concerns with adults:

  • I / We are worried about your safety
  • My / Our main concern is that you are safe
  • I am going to talk to my manager
  • I / We will continue to support you as much as possible
  • Regardless of what happens I / we care about you
  • If you want anything to change all you need to do is give us your name and your address

Safeguarding children & young people

The South West shared core procedures are available at www.swcpp.org.uk and offer a clear guide and step by step approach to what to do if you are concerned about a child or young person under 18.

If a child is at immediate risk or in danger ring the Police on 999.
If you are concerned abut abuse taking place in a care home you can call the Care Quality Commission on 0300 616161

How to ask for help in Devon

Devon Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) by phoning 0345 155 1071 or e-mail: mashsecure@devon.gcsx.gov.uk

Torbay Multi-Sgency Safeguarding Hub

Tel: 01803208100 or out of hours 0300 456 4876, or alternatively email: Torbay.SafeguardingHub@torbay.gcsx.gov.uk

All professionals are encouraged to discuss concerns openly with:

their agency line manager or supervisor or
a named safeguarding professional in their agency

Questions to ask yourself as a professional:

  • If nothing changes, or if I do nothing, in what way is the child likely to be harmed?
  • What is it I am most worried about?
  • Is the child in immediate danger?
  • Have I asked consent from the parent (and child where appropriate) to share this information? (and if not, why not?)
  • What is prompting me to ask for help or support now? Has the problem or issue got worse recently?
  • What needs or concerns have been identified?
  • What has already been done to address the needs or concerns? (including actions by other agencies where known).
  • What positive resources and abilities do the child and family currently have?

Risk factors and vulnerabilities around sexual violence can include:

  • Experiencing more than one assault
  • Repeat victimisation
  • Trauma and confusion
  • Mental health problems
  • Learning disabilities
  • Drink or drug misuse
  • Homelessness
  • Children and Young people
  • Young people at risk of sexual exploitation
  • People with a history of care
  • Young women involved in gang culture
  • Men and women working in the sex industry
  • Victims / survivors of domestic violence
  • Patterns of abusive relationships that have become their norm

How to raise safeguarding concerns with young people:

  • I / We are worried about your safety
  • My / Our main concern is that you are safe
  • I am going to talk to my manager
  • I / We will continue to support you as much as possible
  • Regardless of what happens I / we care about you
  • If you want anything to change all you need to do is give us your name and where you go to school or your address
  • It sounds like you want this to stop now
  • We can find out for you what the police would do if you did let us support you to tell someone