Safeguarding Children and Young People

Everyone has a responsibility for protecting and safeguarding children and adults at risk, not just professionals. If you are concerned about a child, you should report your concerns immediately.

If a child is in immediate danger, you should telephone the police by dialling 999.

If there is no obvious immediate danger, but you are still concerned about a child’s welfare and want to speak to someone for advice, you should telephone: Contact Swindon on 01793 464646 (during normal office hours which are 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am to 4.00pm Friday). Alternatively, email Contact Swindon at contactswindon@swindon.gov.uk

The Emergency Duty Service (EDS) is available outside of office hours on 01793 466900.

What is abuse?

Child abuse happens when someone harms a child. It can be physical, sexual, or emotional, or involve neglect. Children who experience abuse may struggle to speak out, so it is vital that anyone working with children or young people is able to recognise the signs of abuse.

• Physical Abuse is when an adult deliberately hurts a child such as hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning or suffocation.
• Sexual Abuse could be where a child is made to take part in sexual activities or in the taking of rude photos.
• Emotional Abuse could happen, for example, if a child is always being blamed for everything or told that they are stupid and made to feel unhappy.
• Neglect is where a child is not being looked after properly, or not getting enough to eat or being left alone in dangerous situations.

Other types of abuse can include Child Exploitation, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Online Abuse. 

For more information on types of abuse, please go to the NSPCC website.

Safeguarding Adults

The Care Act 2014 has placed Adult Safeguarding on a statutory footing and requires Local Safeguarding Adults’ Boards (LSAB) to be in place. The primary purpose of the Board is to protect Adults in need of care and support from abuse or neglect or the risk of it.

Safeguarding duties apply to:

• an Adult who has needs for care and support, whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs,
• an Adult who is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.

If an Adult is in immediate danger, in need of medical attention or if a crime has been committed, contact the Emergency Services by telephoning 999.

If there is no obvious or immediate danger, but you are still concerned about an adult at risk, please contact:  The Safeguarding team, on 01793 463555 or email: adultsafeguarding@swindon.gov.uk (during office hours – Monday to Friday inclusive, 8.30am to 5.00pm).

Outside of office hours, please contact The Emergency Duty Service (EDS) to report safeguarding concerns that require urgent action outside of normal working hours on 01793 436699.

What is abuse?

The 10 types of abuse are:

• Physical Abuse
• Financial Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Psychological or Emotional Abuse
• Discriminatory Abuse
• Domestic Abuse
• Modern Slavery
• Self-Neglect
• Neglect or Acts of Omission
• Organisational Abuse

For examples, please refer to the Social Care Institute for Excellence.

Swindon Carers Centre’s Policies

Safeguarding Adults Policy [SG1]

Safeguarding Children and Young People [SG2]

Easy Read Safeguarding Policy [SG3]

Groups and Activities Policy [SG1-P2]

Administration of Medication Policy [HS2]