Each person who works with Make (Good) Trouble will agree to abide by this Safeguarding Policy. It is made available on our website.
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding means protecting people from abuse, neglect, or harm, and making sure they feel safe and supported.
We have a legal duty to report concerns and act quickly to prevent abuse – especially for adults who may need extra help or support.
Who is at risk?
An adult at risk is anyone aged 18 or over who might be vulnerable to abuse, neglect, or mistreatment. This could be due to things like:
- A disability
- Mental health challenges
- Communication difficulties
- Being in a difficult or unsafe situation
Even if someone seems okay, they could still be at risk depending on what’s happening around them. It could be temporary or ongoing.
Your responsibilities
If you work or volunteer with us, you must:
✅ Know how to spot signs of abuse
✅ Know what to do if you’re worried about someone
✅ Understand how to behave professionally and safely
What counts as abuse?
Abuse is when someone causes harm or doesn’t protect someone when they should. It could happen anywhere – in the home, at events, online, or in our own organisation.
Abuse can be:
- Physical (hurting someone)
- Emotional (manipulation, threats)
- Sexual
- Neglect (not giving someone the care they need)
- Financial (stealing, pressuring about money)
- …and more (see Appendix 1 for full list)
Key principles we follow
- Everyone has a right to be safe, no matter their background or needs
- We always act in the best interest of the person at risk
- If we’re worried, we take action and explain what’s happening, unless doing so might make things worse
- We respect people’s choices unless there’s a serious risk to them or others
- If the risk comes from a carer or family member, we might not speak with them – to keep the person safe
- If anyone from our team is accused of abuse, we take it seriously and deal with it fairly.
How we keep people safe
We do this by:
- Giving proper training, support and supervision to staff and volunteers. If you feel you haven’t had the right training or guidance, let us know!
- Having clear policies, procedures and guidance.
- Making safe recruitment choices – background checks, interviews, etc.
- Helping staff make good decisions that protect adults and children.
Understanding consent & capacity
Before making decisions for or about someone, we must check they can understand and agree (consent).
Sometimes people can’t give informed consent, especially if:
- They’re confused, scared, injured, or ill
- They have learning differences or a disability
We assume people can give consent unless there’s a reason to think they can’t.
To check if someone understands, ask:
- Do they understand the question or situation?
- Can they explain it in their own words?
- Do they know the risks or consequences?
- Can they clearly say what they want?
If you’re not sure, ask our Safeguarding Lead or someone who knows them well.
What to do if you’re worried about someone
- Talk to our Safeguarding Lead: Andrew Wright or Tayler Cresswell
- She will decide if we need to make a formal safeguarding report.
- If so, fill in the Safeguarding Incident Report Form (available here).
In an emergency
🚨 If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 for the police or an ambulance.
Then, tell your manager or supervisor right away.
Reporting urgent concerns
If there’s an urgent issue, Tayler will contact the police or local social care services.
If you’re in East Sussex, call:
📞 0345 60 80 191 (8am–8pm, 7 days a week)
📞 Out of hours: same number, press option 2
🌐 Report online
Outside East Sussex?
🌐 Use the NHS website to find your local service: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-health-services/local-authority-adult-social-care/
Want to learn more?
This policy exists to protect everyone we work with. You don’t need to have all the answers — you just need to speak up if something feels wrong.
Related policies and procedures
This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies and procedures which can be found here.
Please also read our Safeguarding Policy.
Contact details
Safeguarding Leads: Andrew Wright and Tayler Cresswell. You can contact Andrew or Tayler via this link.
Policy review
This policy was last reviewed in September 2025
This policy will be reviewed: September 2026
Appendix 1: Categories of Adult Abuse
Reference: Care and Support Statutory Guidance (2018)
What constitutes abuse and neglect?
This section considers the different types and patterns of abuse and neglect and the different circumstances in which they may take place. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list but an illustrative guide as to the sort of behaviour which could give rise to a safeguarding concern.
Organisations and individuals should not limit their view of what constitutes abuse or neglect, as they can take many forms and the circumstances of the individual case should always be considered. Exploitation and abuse of power are common themes in the following list of the types of abuse and neglect.
Physical abuse including:
- assault
- hitting
- slapping
- pushing
- misuse of medication
- restraint
- inappropriate physical sanctions.
Domestic violence including:
- psychological
- physical
- sexual
- financial
- emotional abuse
- honour-based violence.
The cross-government definition of domestic violence and abuse is: Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members1 regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following types of abuse: psychological; physical; sexual; financial; emotional
Controlling behaviour is: a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.
Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.
Sexual abuse, including:
- rape
- indecent exposure
- sexual harassment
- inappropriate looking or touching
- sexual teasing or innuendo
- sexual photography
- subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts
- indecent exposure
- sexual assault
- sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting
Psychological abuse including:
- emotional abuse
- threats of harm or abandonment
- deprivation of contact
- humiliation
- blaming
- controlling
- intimidation
- coercion
- harassment
- verbal abuse
- cyber bullying
- isolation
- unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks
Financial or material abuse including:
- theft
- fraud
- internet scamming
- coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
- the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits
Financial abuse is the main form of abuse investigated by the Office of the Public Guardian both amongst adults at risk and children. Financial recorded abuse can occur in isolation, but as research has shown, where there are other forms of abuse, there is likely to be financial abuse occurring. Although this is not always the case, everyone should also be aware of this possibility. Potential indicators of financial abuse include:
- change in living conditions
- lack of heating, clothing or food
- inability to pay bills/unexplained shortage of money
- unexplained withdrawals from an account
- unexplained loss/misplacement of financial documents
- the recent addition of authorised signers on a client or donor’s signature card
- sudden or unexpected changes in a will or other financial documents
Modern slavery encompasses:
- slavery
- human trafficking
- forced labour and domestic servitude.
- traffickers and slave masters using whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment
Discriminatory abuse including forms of:
- harassment
- slurs or similar treatment:
- because of race
- gender and gender identity
- age
- disability
- sexual orientation
- religion
Organisational abuse
Including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice due to the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.
Neglect and acts of omission including:
- ignoring medical
- emotional or physical care needs
- failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services
- the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.
Self-neglect
This covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding. A decision on whether a response is required under safeguarding will depend on the adult’s ability to protect themselves by controlling their own behaviour. There may come a point when they are no longer able to do this, without external support.
Incidents of abuse may be one-off or multiple and affect one person or more. Professionals and others should look beyond single incidents or individuals to identify patterns of harm. Repeated instances of poor care may be an indication of more serious problems and of what we now describe as organisational abuse. In order to see these patterns, it is important that information is recorded and appropriately shared.
Patterns of abuse vary and include:
- serial abuse, in which the perpetrator seeks out and ‘grooms’ individuals. Sexual abuse sometimes falls into this pattern as do some forms of financial abuse
- long-term abuse, in the context of an ongoing family relationship such as domestic violence between spouses or generations or persistent psychological abuse
- opportunistic abuse, such as theft occurring because money or jewellery has been left lying around.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list, nor do these examples prove that there is actual abuse occurring. However, they do indicate that a closer look and possible investigation may be needed.
Appendix 2 Care and Support Statutory Guidance (Re-issued 2018)
Key principles when working with Adults at Risk
Empowerment
People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent.
Prevention
It is better to take action before harm occurs.
Proportionality
The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
Protection
Support and representation for those in greatest need.
Partnership
Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse.
Accountability
Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding