What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding is about protecting children and adults at risk from ill-treatment and harm.

To report abuse of an adult, go to Report abuse of an adult - Staffordshire County Council

or call 0345 604 2719

Where a crime has been committed or if you're worried about someone's immediate safety, contact the police by dialling 999.

Protecting children and adults from abuse.

• Abuse, including neglect, are forms of ill treatment. Somebody may abuse a child or adult by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm.
• Abuse can take many forms. The most common types of abuse are physical, emotional, sexual and neglect.
• Other forms of abuse include (for adults) self-neglect, financial, discriminatory abuse, modern slavery, domestic abuse and organisational abuse. Within these forms of abuse also sit child sexual exploitation, forced marriage, hate crime, female genital mutilation and bullying.
• Safeguarding children and adults at risk from being drawn into violent extremism and/or terrorism is also a safeguarding issue.
• South Staffordshire Council is committed to ensuring that all children and adults at risk are protected and kept safe from harm whilst they are engaged in services provided directly by the council or commissioned by South Staffordshire Partnership.

The council protects children and adults at risk and safeguard our vulnerable residents in several ways:
 • Raising awareness of safeguarding, categories of abuse, signs and reporting mechanisms with employees, elected members, partners, parish councils and volunteers through training which is appropriate to their needs.
 • Reporting safeguarding concerns to the appropriate agencies.
 • Ensuring the council follows safer recruitment procedures.
 • Working effectively with other agencies to safeguard children and adults at risk.

It is not the role of the council to decide whether a child or adults at risk has been abused or not. This is the responsibility of Staffordshire Safeguarding Children's Board and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board. It is however, everybody's responsibility to ensure that concerns are shared and appropriate action taken.

View the council's Children and Adults Safeguarding Policy.

View the annual reports for Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Board and the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board ( SSASPB ).