Report a concern about an adult
Tell us if you’re worried about an adult, even if you do not have all the details or you’re unsure if we need to know. For example, you might think they’re unsafe or suspect abuse.
If someone is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.
If you’re a professional, you need to complete a safeguarding adults referral form (WORD 132kb).
What happens next
We will decide if we need to investigate and if the person you’re worried about needs protection or support. We aim to contact you within one working day if we need to talk about what has happened.
If we contact the person you’re worried about, we listen to them and help identify what will make them feel safer. We try to agree on what needs to happen, involving them as much as possible in any decision to protect them.
Spotting signs of abuse
There are many forms of abuse. Find out about the types and signs of abuse.
Some signs of abuse to look for include:
- multiple bruising or finger marks
- injuries the person can’t give a good reason for
- deterioration of health for no apparent reason
- loss of weight
- inappropriate or inadequate clothing
- withdrawal or mood changes
- a carer who is unwilling to allow access to the person
- an individual who is unwilling to be alone with a particular carer
- unexplained shortage of money
The person responsible for the abuse is often well known to the person being abused. For example, they could be a friend, relative or care worker.