Carers rights

Keeping you and the person you care for safe

Caring can be stressful and can take its toll. Your own safety and the safety of the person that you care for are of paramount importance. You need to be aware of what is referred to as ‘safeguarding’, which is preventing and responding to allegations of abuse, harm or neglect of adults at risk.

Here in Dudley borough the Safeguarding Adults Board works with local people so that adults at risk are kept safe and able to protect themselves from abuse and neglect and are treated fairly, with dignity and respect.

The Care Act 2014 defines a person ‘at risk’ as a person who:

• has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meetings any of those needs)
• 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.

Recognising risks of harm or harmful behaviours is important in the protection of vulnerable people. Communities and carers have important roles in protecting people who may be unable to protect themselves.

As a carer you are best placed to recognise and understand any risks faced by the person you care for. It is important that if you feel unable to manage these risks you let someone know.  Sometimes the behaviour of the person you care for, intentionally or not, can fall into the category of abuse. Denial, guilt, or a sense of shame in asking for help, can create barriers which prevent you speaking up about these difficult situations.

Abuse or neglect is not always deliberate, malicious or planned. Sometimes you may harm the person you care for, intentionally or unintentionally.  Events and actions may be prompted by stress, tiredness, isolation, lack of information and support, brought on by your caring responsibilities.

If you have:

• a concern about the safety or welfare of a vulnerable adult or,

• if you are feeling stressed and are struggling to cope

Please contact the council’s Access to adult social care helpline on 0300 555 00555.

Or you can visit the Dudley Safeguarding website

This contains lots of useful information on keeping safe, as well as an online alert form.

 

 

 

 

 

Safeguarding Children

Safeguarding is about protecting children, young people and adults at risk from abuse or neglect.  It also means helping children to grow up into confident, healthy and happy adults.

Most children enjoy generally happy childhood experiences within their own family. Unfortunately for some, this is not the case. During difficult family times, everyone who knows the child must do the best they can to protect them from future harm.

You could be a neighbour, friend, relative, childminder, teacher or doctor, or working for any organisation which has contact with children and young people.  Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.

If you are

• concerned about a child you can call for advice

• or want  to make a child protection referral

 

Contact the Single Point of Access (SPA) Team on 0300 555 0050. SPA hours are 9am–5pm Monday to Friday.

Or you can visit the Dudley Safeguarding website

At all other times, emergency duty team borough wide 0300 555 8574

 

If you have a reason to believe that a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact the police on 999 or 101