How to report abuse
Concerns about exploitation, abuse or neglect
If you think someone with care and support needs is at risk of or experiencing abuse or neglect, you need to report it to the local authority safeguarding team in the area where you know or suspect the abuse or neglect is happening. Remember, suspicion is enough.
If it is an emergency and someone is seriously hurt, or the abuser is still with the adult and they are immediate danger, ring the police on 999.
If the abuse is taking place in Stoke on Trent
If the abuse is taking place in Staffordshire
Telephone: 0345 604 2719 (Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5pm, Fridays 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding Bank Holidays) or 0345 604 2886 at any other time
Don’t worry if you are not sure, the person on the phone will help you to forward your concerns to the right team.
SSASPB have produced a leaflet with more information that you might want to share with someone you have concerns about or who is concerned about someone else.
Concerns about quality of care
If you have a concern about the quality of care that a someone is receiving but there are no indicators of abuse or neglect, this should be reported to the relevant local authority as a care quality concern rather than a safeguarding concern. These can include, but are not limited to residential and nursing care homes, home care, supported living services, extra care schemes, brokerage functions and social care assessment organisations.
If the concerns is about an adult social care or health services within Staffordshire or Stoke on Trent, or for a resident of the area who accesses services outside of the area, you can use the Quality Assurance Form to notify Staffordshire County Council or Stoke on Trent City Council of compliments or quality concerns.
Anyone can complete the form whether you use a care service, are a relative or friend of someone who uses a care service, a member of the public, a health or social care professional or work within the care sector yourself.
If you are not sure if your concern is a safeguarding or a care quality concern, the Safeguarding, Quality or Regulatory Concerns (191KB) guidance produced by Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT) might be useful.
For more information or to raise a quality concern form for services in Staffordshire, please visit the Staffordshire County Council website.
For more information or to raise a quality concern form for services in Stoke-on-Trent, please visit the Stoke-on-Trent City Council website.