I don't feel safe

Sometimes things may go wrong or we may feel uncomfortable with a particular situation. It might be something happening in your own home or in a care home or hospital. Mistreatment doesn’t always involve a stranger. Someone we think of as a friend could mistreat us, perhaps by taking money or by making us feel afraid, uncomfortable or hurt.

You may be unsure about whether what is happening to you counts as abuse or neglect.

If you are concerned about yourself, or a particular situation, there are people you can speak to and there is help available. Find someone you trust to talk to about how you are feeling, or you can Report it to someone who will help.

What is abuse and neglect?

Abuse and neglect comes in many different shapes and sizes. Some examples are given below:

• When someone physically hurts you or treats you badly
• When someone does things, or says things that upset you or makes you feel frightened
• When someone makes you do things that you do not want to do
• When someone fails to provide adequate care in order for you to live safely and without fear
• When you do things that other people feel put your safety at risk
• When someone takes money from you or pressures you to give them money

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding means protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of adults at risk, enabling them to live safely, free from abuse and neglect.  Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and reduce both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect.  It also means making sure that your wellbeing is supported and your views, wishes, feelings and beliefs are respected when agreeing on any action. This is called Making Safeguarding Personal.