Where does abuse happen?
This could be a:
Abuse can happen anywhere, for example:
• • • • •
• in the street; • at home; • at a friend’s house; • where you work; • at a day centre, residential home or college; or • somewhere you spend your free time.
What are the signs of abuse? Possible signs of abuse could include: • injuries – bruises, broken bones and burns; • lack of personal care; • bills not being paid; • sudden loss of assets, friends or family threatening an individual to gain access to money etc; • not getting to medical appointments; • changes in behaviour or mood; or • unexplained withdrawal from normal activities and friends, family or community.
How can I report my suspicions of abuse? Initially you should tell someone you can trust.
family member; friend; member of staff; social worker or nurse; or an advocate.
‘There can be no secrets and no hiding place when it comes to exposing the abuse of vulnerable adults.’ (‘No Secrets’, Department of Health) If you or the individual is in immediate danger, need medical attention or if a crime has been committed call the emergency services on 999. If you or an adult you know may be at risk of abuse you should contact your local Council Safeguarding Team: Bedford Borough Council Tel: 01234 276222 Email: adult.protection@bedford.gov.uk Central Bedfordshire Council Tel: 0300 300 8122 Email: adult.protection@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk Luton Borough Council Tel: 01582 547730/547563 Email: adultsafeguarding@luton.gcsx.gov.uk
Making a complaint Complaints about care homes and social care services If you have a complaint about a care home, care home with nursing or any other social care service, the first thing you should do is tell the home or service. This applies whether you pay for your care or your local council funds it. By law, every care home and social care service must have an efficient procedure for dealing with complaints. Ask for a copy of the service’s complaints procedure so that you know what you must do and how they will deal with your complaint. Care funded by your local council If you are not happy with the reply you receive from a care service when you complain, you can take your complaint to your local Adult Social Care department. You will need to follow their complaints procedure – your social worker, care manager or the department itself will explain what to do. You can find the contact number of you local adult social care services on page 4.
The care service or the social services department should try to sort out your complaint themselves and put things right to prevent the same thing happening again. If you are not satisfied with the final reply from the care service or your local social services department, you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman. There are three local government ombudsmen in England. They each deal with complaints from different parts of the country. However, you should first send your complaint to: The Local Government Ombudsman, PO Box 4771, Coventry CV4 0EH Telephone: 0300 061 0614 or 0845 602 1983. Complaints about care that you pay for yourself Since October 2010, you can ask the Local Government Ombudsman to take up your case if you are not happy about how a care home or service dealt with your complaint about care that you pay for yourself.
Visit www.carechoices.co.uk for further assistance with your search for care
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