We believe that everyone has a right to live in our homes without fear, free from abuse and neglect.
We recognise raising a safeguarding concern isn’t straight forward. It takes bravery to speak out, and seeking help from the right professionals or support networks is sometimes the biggest barrier. We also receive a lot of concerns from residents who are worried about a neighbour and think they could be at risk.
I wanted to create a team that can overcome the barriers and resource issues faced by residents who are experiencing abuse, neglect or are concerned about others. This is why I’ve formed a Safeguarding Team who can be accessed for advice, guidance and support by residents and staff.
The main duties of the team include:
- Listening to concerns that have been raised, including contacting people at risk (where it’s safe to do so)
- Ensuring the immediate safety of individuals, including signposting to appropriate support
- Making referrals into local authority safeguarding teams for decision making
- Liaising with current or future support networks
- Empowering residents to keep themselves safe and make informed decisions
- Raise awareness of safeguarding and provide information on local services
Despite having a dedicated team, safeguarding requires everyone to work together, it’s a shared responsibility; you, me, them and us. Together we can make an impact. A vital part of safeguarding is working in partnership with residents and specialist organisations such as the police, social services, health services and community safety.
It’s important to remind you that the decision to engage in and consent to safeguarding is ultimately up to the individual. However, if there’s a risk to life, we’ll prioritise safety over consent. In an emergency or faced with immediate danger, we’ll always call 999.
We have made it even easier for you to contact the Safeguarding Team if you, or someone you know could be at risk.
You can contact our team directly on 0300 0200 538 or email safeguarding@southernhousing.org.uk.