Safeguarding
What to do if you or someone you know is being harmed or neglected
What is abuse or neglect?
It includes physically hurting someone, making them feel frightened or worthless, emotional or sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect (not meeting basic needs e.g., food, safety), financial abuse (misusing someone’s money or property) and exploiting someone for other means e.g., forced work. Someone might also seriously neglect themselves.
What is abuse or neglect?
Everyone has the right to feel safe. Safeguarding relies on professionals and members of the public letting police or social services know when someone is at risk so that they can act to prevent harm or protect them.
Who abuses?
It could be anyone. Often, but not always, it is someone who knows the person already e.g., a parent or another adult, spouse/partner, sibling, carers, care workers, family member/relative, friend, neighbour, volunteer/helper or someone not known to the person.
Things to look out for:
- Possible changes in the child or adult’s behaviour or mood/personality
- Unexplained injury or a series of injuries
- Signs of fear or distress
- Signs or neglect
- Theft, fraud or unexplained financial worries
Who is being abused?
You might be being abused or neglected or you might be worried about someone who you know.
It is important to act to keep yourself or someone else safe.
What to do if you are worried about someone else
- Ask them if they feel okay, do they feel safe, are they frightened of someone, is someone harming them in any way? (Only do this if it doesn’t place you or them at greater risk).
- If you can and if it safe (doesn’t make them or you more at risk) tell them what you are going to do to help.
- If you can’t ask these questions but are worried about someone, you can still act (see following section).
What to do if you are worried about your safety
It is important to remember that if you are being abused, it is not your fault. Don’t worry about telling others if you think you are being abused – it is important that you get help.
If you are being harmed or not being looked after and you have a keyworker (Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) or another organisation) then speak to them and they will help refer you for support. If your keyworker is off work, then ask to speak to another member of the team.
If you want, you can ask someone else to contact the police or social services on your behalf. Your call can remain anonymous.
Contacting the GMMH Safeguarding team
The Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) Safeguarding team can be contacted for advice and guidance around safeguarding concerns: gmmh-ft.safeguarding@gmmh.nhs.uk
Where the safeguarding concern presents immediate danger, please immediately escalate to the police/social services.
The inbox is monitored Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm. Emails sent on weekends/bank holidays will be reviewed the next working day.
Safeguarding - Contacting the Police
Is it an emergency? Does it feel like the situation could get heated or violent very soon? Are you/is someone in immediate danger? Do you or they need support right away? If the answer is YES, call 999.
If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, use the textphone service 18000 or text on 999 if you’ve preregistered. Click here for more information: Contact 999 using Relay UK - How to use Relay UK | Relay UK
There is a non-urgent police telephone line 101, but this is often very busy and if you can it is easier and quicker to use an online link to report a crime in Greater Manchester: Report a crime | Greater Manchester Police
If you are worried or know that a child, or an adult who can’t protect themselves is being harmed or neglected then call social services
| Adult | Child | Out of Hours | |
| Bolton | 01204 337 000 | 01204 331 500 | 01204 337777 |
| Bury | 0161 253 5678 | 0161 253 5151 | 0161 253 6606 |
| Manchester | 0161 234 5001 (24 hours) | ||
| Oldham | 0161 770 7777 | 0161 770 6936 | |
| Rochdale | 0300 303 8886 | 0300 303 0440 | 0300 303 8875 |
| Salford | 0161 631 4777 | 0161 603 4500 | 0161 794 8888 |
| Stockport | 0161 217 6029 | 0161 217 6028 | 0161 718 2118 |
| Tameside | 0161 922 4888 | 0161 342 4101 | 0161 342 2222 |
| Trafford | 0161 912 5135 | 0161 912 5125 | 0161 912 2020 |
| Wigan and Leigh | 01942 828777 (24 hours) | 01942 828300 (24 hour) |
Safeguarding - Other support services
| NSPCC helpline - Call if you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure | 0808 800 5000 |
| Childline - Offers free, confidential advice and support for any child under 18 | 0800 1111 |
| Age UK - Free confidential advice line for older people (8am to 7pm) | 0800 678 1602 |
For those affected by domestic abuse and violence
| Refuge – National Domestic Abuse helpline for women and children | 0808 2000 247 www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk |
| Mankind Helpline – Domestic abuse support for male victims | 0800 800 1170 www.mankind.org.uk |
| Manchester Women’s Aid | 0161 660 7999 Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm www.manchesterwomensaid.org |
| Greater Manchester Domestic abuse helpline | 0800 254 0909 www.domesticabusehelpline.co.uk/our-services/greater-manchester-domestic-abuse-helpline |
| GALOP: LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline | 0800 999 5428 www.galop.org.uk/get-help/helplines |
| Karma Nirvana - for those concerned that they could be pressured into marrying someone they do not want to; are told that they bring shame or dishonour on their family. They may also be at risk of, or already being emotionally or physically abused within the family. |
0800 5999 247 |
| Respect - an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families. The helpline also takes calls from partners or ex-partners, friends and relatives who are concerned about perpetrators. | 0808 8024040 www.respectphoneline.org.uk |
| Safe lives | www.safelives.org.uk |
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The NHS website has advice online for the public on spotting the signs for domestic abuse and domestic violence and where to go for help. The NHS also has a help page for those who have been raped and sexually assaulted. |
www.nhs.uk |
As a service user, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support.
Find resources for carers and service users Contact the Trust