What should you do if you're concerned about a vulnerable adult, such as a friend or elderly neighbour?
You might be concerned if you observe a vulnerable person over 18 who is finding it difficult to cope. Some signs of this might include:
- They are not looking after themselves or their home as they normally would.
- They seem frail or confused.
- There are signs of injury or mobility problems.
- They are being exploited or abused.
What to do
If you are able to, you could:
- Speak to them first and ask if they are OK and if they want help.
- Ask if they have family or friends in the area who can help and if you can call them.
If after speaking to them you think they need further help, or if you do not feel able to speak with them directly, and you need to contact us, please submit a general contact us enquiry online below and tell us as much information about the person as you can, including where possible:
- their name and address
- their date of birth, if you know it
- the reason you are worried about them
- any other information that could help us find out who they are.
Alternatively, you can call the Social Work Contact Centre on 03451 55 15 03.
What happens next?
All online and telephone enquiries are screened on the day they arrive (between the hours of 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday). Our Social Work Team looks at each contact to assess the level of risk for the adult and any immediate actions that might be needed.
We may call the police or ask a social worker to visit depending on the concerns raised - and we'll ask the person what they want to happen too.