Staying Safe

Everyone has the right to feel safe all of the time. Some times things happen that can make people feel unsafe.

Some things that might make you feel unsafe include:

• Being shouted at or called names

• Being hurt

• Being touched in a way which makes you feel uncomfortable

• Being asked to do something which makes you feel unsafe

• Not being given the care and support you expected

• Being asked to keep secrets about things that make you feel uncomfortable

• Being sent unkind messages through social media or your mobile phone

• Having money taken from you

If someone makes you feel unsafe in any way it is important that you tell someone you trust who can help get the advice and support that you might need.

There are lots of people who need extra support to stay safe. Someone may need support to stay safe now or they may need support in the future.

The Care Act 2014 says that some people must be supported to stay safe. This means that it is the law. These people may:

• have needs for care and support

• be experiencing, or be at risk of, abuse or neglect

• be unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect because of their care and support needs

• be caring for someone with care and support needs

All adults with care and support needs have the right to be supported to stay safe regardless of whether the person has care and support needs that are being met by the council, another agency or whether the person is privately funding their own support.
An adult with care and support needs may be:

• An older person

• A person with a physical disability, a learning difficulty or a sensory impairment

• Someone with mental health needs, including dementia

• A person with a long-term health condition

• Someone who misuses substances or alcohol

• A person who is isolated from their local community