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Raise a concern

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Back to Safeguarding

Adult safeguarding

Raise adult safeguarding concerns clearly and without delay.

Use this route when the concern is about an adult with care and support needs. If there is immediate danger or urgent medical risk, call 999 first.

Adult with care and support needs
Secure concern form
Emergency services first if urgent
Read child safeguarding

This route is for safeguarding concerns, not ordinary contact, referral, or partnership enquiries.

Adult safeguarding

Adult with care and support needs

This route is for concerns about an adult with care and support needs. It keeps the route practical and serious while separating adult safeguarding clearly from child safeguarding and ordinary contact.

Use this route when the concern is about an adult with care and support needs who may be experiencing abuse, neglect, coercion, exploitation, or another serious risk to their safety or wellbeing.

Use the adult safeguarding route when

  • the concern is about an adult with care and support needs
  • you are worried about abuse, neglect, coercion, exploitation, or unsafe circumstances
  • the adult's situation means they may be unable to protect themselves or get help safely

Keep in mind

  • Take the concern seriously.
  • Share only what is needed.
  • Use the safeguarding route rather than ordinary contact.

What to do now

The public route should make the adult safeguarding boundary clear without implying the site is a crisis service.

  1. Step 1

    Call 999 first if there is immediate danger

    If the adult is in immediate danger, seriously injured, or needs urgent emergency help, call 999 before using the site.

  2. Step 2

    Use the safeguarding route, not ordinary contact

    Send the concern through the secure safeguarding form or the public safeguarding inbox so it reaches the right intake route.

  3. Step 3

    Share the concern plainly and proportionately

    Explain what is happening, why you are worried, and what immediate risk or support need you know about without adding unnecessary personal detail.

  4. Step 4

    Say if you think the adult may struggle to stay safe

    If care and support needs, coercion, isolation, or dependency make the risk more serious, include that context so the concern is understood properly.

Before you send an adult safeguarding concern

  • Describe the risk, the immediate situation, and any urgent welfare concern.
  • Explain how you know about the concern and whether anyone else is already involved.
  • Include contact details for yourself so the team can respond if needed.
  • Use the child safeguarding route instead if the concern is really about a child or young person.

What this page does not promise

  • It does not replace emergency or statutory adult-safeguarding action.
  • It does not promise confidential handling terms or response times that have not been publicly defined.
  • It does not ask people to decide complicated case thresholds before raising a serious concern.