Safeguarding

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is a term we use to protect the health, wellbeing and human rights of individuals, which allow people to live free from abuse, harm and neglect. We are working hard in Bromley to make safeguarding everybody’s business so that together we can better support and protect those most at risk.

The Bromley Safeguarding Adults Board is responsible for making sure there are the right services in place to keep vulnerable adults safe from harm and abuse. It is made up of health and social care professionals and the police. The Board also has representation from private, voluntary and independent organisations.

Safeguarding Adults at risk

Bromley Council works with other organisations in Bromley to ensure that vulnerable adults live a life free from fear, are treated with respect and are not forced to do anything against their will. A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves from harm or exploitation. Adults may be vulnerable due to old age/frailty, mental health problems, learning or physical disabilities.

What is abuse?

Abuse is the violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons. Abuse may consist of single or repeated acts. Abuse can happen anywhere: in the vulnerable person’s own home, out in the street, or in their care home or hospital. For further information on the types of abuse click here.

How to report abuse

In an emergency

Contact the emergency services by dialling 999. If the abuse is a crime you should contact the police. We can assist you with this and, as a vulnerable person, you will get support during the police investigation.

If you need to contact a social worker outside of office hours please telephone 0300 303 8671.

During office hours

Call 020 8461 7777

If you are a member of the public and want to report your concerns about an adult at risk, you can do this by completing an online referral form.

If you are a professional and would like to raise a concern, you can do this by downloading, completing and submitting a safeguarding referral form for professionals.

What happens next

This will depend on the seriousness of the situation and what you would like to do about it. If you are in danger we will ensure that a care manager or health worker talks to you immediately to plan how to stop the abuse happening again.

Concerned about a care home or domiciliary agency

Contact the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Safeguarding Children

Bromley Council provide services that protect, care for and support the most vulnerable children and young people in the borough.

Who can get support

Most children and young people’s needs will be met through universal services, for example by schools, youth services, GP surgeries as well as from support within the family. A small number of children and young people require specialist support from children’s safeguarding and social care. This will include children and young people who are suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm and those whose development will be significantly impaired without the provision of services.

Referrals to children’s social care

The Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) manages referrals to children’s social care and consists of a partnership between Bromley Council, the police probation and health services. Contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub, or for problems relating to the following:

• If your child has severe learning or physical disabilities and you require a social work service, please contact the disabled children’s social work and short break team.
• If difficulties arise outside of normal office hours, contact their emergency out of hours service on 0300 303 8671. There is a social worker on duty to provide a service in emergency situations or on behalf of someone else, if they are concerned about the welfare of children.

For further information visit the Bromley Council Website.

To make a referral to children’s social care please contact The Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub on 020 8461 7373 / 7379 / 7026 or mash@bromley.gov.uk.