Report Abuse

What is Abuse?

Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risk and experience of abuse and neglect.

Abuse and neglect can happen to anyone and in any setting. Types of abuse can include physical, emotional, sexual, financial, discriminatory abuse, neglect, self-neglect, domestic abuse, modern slavery and organisational abuse.

When to Report Abuse

Are you worried that an adult who has needs for care and support, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, or do you need help yourself? There are people who can help. You can contact your local Adult Social Care to report your concerns, this is called a ‘safeguarding concern’.

Stopping abuse or neglect is everyone’s responsibility. Anybody can raise a concern.

If the person with needs for care and support is NOT experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, but they still need support, consider referring them to Adult Social Care for a needs assessment or another appropriate service, such as their GP or a specialist support service. For local support services, visit Find Support in Your Area.

How to Report Abuse and Neglect of an adult

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or a crime has been committed or may be committed, contact Cleveland Police immediately by dialling 999.

Call 101 for non emergency concerns.

General Public

If you are worried about an adult in Tees you can talk to the relevant local Adult Social Care team, using the details below:

Or speak to someone you trust, such as your GP, nurse, police officer or care worker. They will pass on your concerns to Adult Social Care.

You can also report suspected abuse and neglect using the TSAB Concern Form below.

Professionals

Before you send a safeguarding concern to the local council, you should first look at Stage 1 of the TSAB Safeguarding Adults Procedure to make sure you’re following the correct steps.

If you are a professional and need to report a safeguarding concern about an adult living in Middlesbrough, you should use the Council’s online Adult Social Care portal.

If you’re a professional reporting a safeguarding concern about an adult in Hartlepool, Stockton, or Redcar, complete the TSAB Concern Form below and email it to the relevant local authority in which the individual lives. If you need help, see our Example Concern Forms for guidance.

Alternatively if you are worried or want to talk to someone, contact your local Adult Social Care Service using the details above.

TSAB Concern Form

For more TSAB guidance, including:

Please visit our Local Policies, Procedures and Guidance Page

Please do not report abuse or neglect to the TSAB Business Unit

Reporting abuse or neglect to Police if you are deaf, hard of hearing or are speech impaired

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have trouble speaking, you can still contact the police:

In an emergency

  • Use the Relay app and dial 18000 or textphone
  • You can text 999, but you must sign up first
    • Text “Register” to 999 and follow the steps (you only do this once) Find out more about the Emergency Text Service.
  • British Sign Language (BSL) users can use the video relay service where an interpreter will help you report the crime to Police.

Non-emergency

  • BSL users can use the SignLive app to contact Cleveland Police
  • Or report online to Cleveland Police

For more information visit Cleveland Police’s website

Consider the Risk to others ‘ Think Family’

You should also consider whether other people may be at risk because of an adult’s situation. This may include children or other adults who need care and support.

Even if you cannot take action to protect the adult, you may still need to act to protect others.

If you are worried that a parent or carer may be neglecting children, you must report this to Children’s Social Care. Contact details can be found on the Safeguarding Children Partnership website.

Also refer to the Think Family Guidance