Welcome to April’s edition of the Safeguarding Champions Bulletin
You may notice some changes to this Bulletin – following your feedback we are making some improvements to the Safeguarding Champion Scheme. Read on for further information …
Thank you to the Safeguarding Champions who took the time to complete our short survey. Your feedback has supported some important changes to the scheme moving forward:
- You will continue to receive updates on Policies, Procedures, Guidance, Safeguarding Adult Reviews and any other safeguarding resources and information via our quarterly Newsletter.
- This Bulletin will be used more effectively to support you to be more actively involved as a Safeguarding Champion in your organisation and your communities.
- This Bulletin may include suggested tasks for you to complete and you may be asked for feedback in relation to this.
- 6 monthly Network meetings will be introduced, one of which will include an online learning event.
- There will be more opportunities for you to be involved in safeguarding campaigns.
Back to Basics
A number of Champions highlighted that a refresher of the role may be helpful.
A Safeguarding Champion is a person who works within the Tees area who:
- Understands what adult safeguarding is
- Understands the different types of abuse and neglect and knows how to spot the signs of abuse and neglect
- Knows how to report any Safeguarding Concerns and offers safeguarding advice to colleagues, service users/customers, families and carers
- Raises awareness with others on recognising and reporting adult abuse or neglect
- Helps connect local people to a range of health and wellbeing services including signposting to safeguarding teams where appropriate
- Shares TSAB e-bulletins, newsletters and social media posts amongst their networks and acts upon any relevant information which applies to them or their organisation
- Reads and shares learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs), Learning Lessons Reviews (LLRs) and considers the learning from their organisation’s perspective to prevent similar instances occurring
- Shares and learns from good practice as well as learning from ‘near misses’ or single agency instances/concerns linked to abuse or neglect
- Ensures that their organisation has robust adult safeguarding policies, procedures and guidance in place and is aware of TSAB’s Inter-Agency Safeguarding Adults Policy, Procedure and Decision Support Guidance
- Listens to the people they support and provides relevant feedback to TSAB that can help inform future safeguarding priorities and practice.
A Safeguarding Champion will also apply the principles of Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) within their daily practice.
Remember to visit our Safeguarding Champions Area. Here you will find:
- What is a Safeguarding Champion?
- Who can be a Safeguarding Champion?
- Safeguarding Champions Bulletins
- How to sign up to become a Safeguarding Champion?
- Induction pack for new Safeguarding Champions
- Further Resources
Have you completed the Safeguarding Champions Pledge?
All champions must:
- Register for TSAB’s free e-learning and complete the Safeguarding Adults Level 1 course (this will be mandatory in 2026 for all existing champions and new champions).
All champions should:
- Share the links to e-learning with colleagues
- Print, display and email the Safeguarding Adults Leaflets and Posters so that colleagues, service users and families know how to report abuse or neglect
- Informing your colleagues that you are a Safeguarding Champion so that they know to contact you for advice regarding safeguarding matters
- Following TSAB on Facebook, Linked In and BlueSky to keep up to date with the latest safeguarding news
Reporting Abuse and Neglect
Visit the TSAB Report Abuse webpage to find out how to report your concerns. Here you will find the TSAB Concern Form which should be completed and submitted to the relevant local adult social care service or alternatively you can contact them by using the contact numbers listed on the page.
If you are unsure of how to complete the TSAB concern form, there are also examples on our website of how to do this.
Please refer to Stage 1 of the TSAB Safeguarding Adults Procedure prior to submitting a Concern Form to the Local Authority.
As a reminder you should report abuse when:
- The adult has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs)
- And is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect
You can report very serious abuse and neglect to Cleveland Police by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency
Dates for the Diary
As a Safeguarding Champion, your role is to support with raising awareness of adult safeguarding. Listed below are details of recent and upcoming awareness campaigns with simple ideas of how you can raise awareness within your own organisations and communities.
Follow TSAB on Facebook, Bluesky and LinkedIn and share our posts during key campaigns.
Email us at [email protected] to let us know how you get involved.
World Autism Acceptance Month: April 2025
- Share TSAB’s Working with Autistic Adults webpage with colleagues. This page aims to raise awareness of autism and provide the starting blocks for those who may work with Autistic Adults, to support the provision of accessible and inclusive services. It includes practical steps for professionals to consider, as well as links to other websites and resources.
National Stalking Awareness Week: 20th -26th April
- Led by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, the theme for the week was based on their new report – Fatal Fixation: Understanding the Link Between Stalking and Homicide.
- Share information on The Suzy Lamplugh Trust/ National Stalking Helpline with colleagues. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust provide help and support in relation to Stalking, including a helpline: National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300 and an online tool that can be used by an individual to better understand if they are being stalked and what support is available.
- Download and print resources from the Suzy Lamplugh trust, such as their Essential Information for Victims of Stalking leaflet available in 11 languages.
Deaf Awareness Week: 4th – 10th May
- Share TSAB’s Safeguarding Video’s that include a BSL interpreter: What is Safeguarding? and What is Modern Slavery?
- Visit TSAB’s Report Abuse webpage to find out how people can report abuse or neglect to Police if they are deaf, hard of hearing or are speech impaired.
Mental Health Awareness Week: 11th -17th May
- The theme this year is Action: for yourself, for someone else, for all of us:
- Visit the Mental Health Foundation for free resources (such as top ten actions to support good mental health) to share with your colleagues and communities.
Dementia Action Week: 18th – 24th May
- Support the Alzheimer’s Society during Dementia Action Week by downloading and sharing posters, flyers, backgrounds and more to encourage everyone to join the Forget Me Not Appeal.
Carers Week: 8th – 14th June
- The theme for Carers Week 2026 is Building Carer Friendly Communities. This will highlight the impact carer friendly communities can have in making a real and lasting difference to the lives of carers everywhere.
- Share TSAB’S Carers page Carers | Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board.
World Elder Abuse Day: 15th June
- Share TSAB’s animation “Hidden Harms“. This animation highlights the unique challenges that older adults face when domestic abuse occurs, to help support practitioners and families start a conversation with an older adult.
Learning Disability Week: 15th – 21st June
- The theme for 2026 is “Do you see me?” which is all about people with a learning disability being seen, heard and valued.
- Share information and resources from Mencap – Learning Disability Week | Mencap
E-Learning & Training
Are you up to date with your Safeguarding training? As a Safeguarding Champion, staying current is essential for your own practice and ensures you can provide accurate advice, share relevant information, and signpost effectively, keeping safeguarding at the heart of everything you do.
Training Courses – New dates released for 2026!
To view and request a place on any of our upcoming training courses please visit our Training Courses and Events page.
E-Learning
The Adults & Children Safeguarding Partner Organisations across Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees actively support the ‘Think Family’ approach and are committed to the continuous learning and development of all staff and volunteers working with vulnerable people: adults, children, young people and families.
Through our E-Leaning site you will be able to view, select and be given immediate access to a range of e-learning opportunities.
Further Information
Want to learn more about your role as a champion? Visit our dedicated Safeguarding Champions Area for further information.
Champions will receive the TSAB Newsletters which include further training opportunities and resources to read and share to help you to fulfil your role.
You can withdraw as a Safeguarding Champion at any point, please email [email protected]
Don’t forget that TSAB has a dedicated webpage hosting details of local and national services.
Can’t see your service/ another service on there and think it should be added? Please send the details to [email protected].