Campaign aims to tackle organisational abuse

Spearheaded by the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board - the statutory body responsible for the strategic direction of adult safeguarding across Tees Valley – the campaign is being supported by Hartlepool Borough Council.

It is aimed at members of the public, care professionals and organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Organisational abuse is neglect and poor care practice that occurs within an institution or specific care setting, such as a hospital or care home, but it can also relate to care delivered in a person’s own home.

Jill Harrison, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Director of Adult and Community Based Services, said: “We are pleased to be supporting this campaign, and to be working closely with partners to raise awareness of organisational abuse.

“We want to make people aware that this sort of abuse can occur, and we want to give them the confidence to come forward and report it where they have concerns.

“It is also important that organisations are encouraged to review on a regular basis the care services they provide to ensure they are complying with regulations and meeting expected standards.

“As an authority, we are committed to protecting and upholding the right of all adults to live safely, free from abuse and neglect.”

Darren Best, Independent Chair of the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board, added: ‘Safeguarding is everybody’s business. It’s important that all organisations challenge themselves and consider how they create and maintain open and safe cultures. The first step in doing that is to initiate what can be difficult conversations about safeguarding adults. As the Teesside Safeguarding Adults Board Independent Chair I very much welcome the focus this week will bring to organisational abuse and importantly the conversations and actions that will hopefully follow. My message is to be brave and seek to get even better for the people we all serve.”

The campaign is running from February 20th-24th and is being supported by a bus stop advertising campaign.

To report any concerns that you might have about organisational abuse and neglect call Hartlepool Borough Council on (01429) 523390 during normal office hours. On evenings and at weekends call (01642) 524552. More information is also available via the Council’s dedicated adult services website Hartlepool Now at www.hartlepoolnow.co.uk or the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board website at www.tsab.org.uk For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, concerns can be reported via a SMS text messaging service on 07833 672357.

Very serious abuse and neglect should be reported to Cleveland Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.