1. Home
  2. Community
  3. Safeguarding

Safeguarding

Everyone has the right to feel safe and we all have a duty to help protect and prevent harm towards adults, children and young people in Maidstone.

Safeguarding is everybody’s business and we are committed to reducing harm, recognising a concern and reporting appropriately as outlined in our policy. Kent County Council has overall responsibility for safeguarding and how to make a referral can be found below.

What is safeguarding

Safeguarding is about protecting and empowering people to stay safe. Everyone has the right to live free from abuse or harm and speaking up to help someone is always important it is never 'nosiness'.

Abuse can happen to anyone, anywhere, whether it’s at home, in a nursing or residential home, in a hospital, at work or school, or even in public spaces. Anyone can be the perpetrator of abuse. There are many types of abuse, including:

  • physical
  • sexual
  • emotional/psychological
  • financial and economic
  • neglect (or self-neglect)
  • discriminatory
  • organisational
  • domestic abuse
  • female genital mutilation (FGM)
  • modern slavery and human trafficking
  • criminal exploitation
  • radicalisation

Some people are more vulnerable to abuse than others. An 'adult at risk' refers to someone aged 18 or older who has care and support needs and may not be able to protect themselves from harm. Adults at increased risk of harm may include individuals who:

  • are elderly and need assistance from others
  • have learning or physical disabilities
  • experience mental health difficulties
  • have sensory support needs or are neurodiverse
  • those who are reliant on or misuse drugs and/or alcohol
  • those who have experienced significant trauma, including domestic abuse

More information on adult safeguarding can be found on the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board website. Information for children’s safeguarding is on the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership website.

Seven key principles of safeguarding adults

  • Prevention: Creating safe environments, open conversations, and raising awareness to reduce risks.
  • Protection: Acting swiftly when concerns are raised and providing appropriate support.
  • Partnership: Working together with other organisations, agencies, and professionals to ensure people’s safety and well-being. Collaboration is key in safeguarding.
  • Empowerment: Giving individuals the information and support they need to make their own decisions about their safety and well-being is vital.
  • Accountability: Individuals and organisations take responsibility for their actions. Safeguarding requires clear lines of responsibility and oversight. If you have a concern for an individual, you are responsible for taking the correct action to report this.
  • Transparency: Making sure safeguarding practices are open, clear, and communicated effectively to everyone involved including (in some cases) family members, carers or advocates.
  • Respect for rights: Safeguarding should not violate a person’s freedom or rights; it should protect them. Personal circumstances and communication needs must be considered to allow an individual to fully access all key principles and promote dignity and respect.

Report a safeguarding concern

If you or someone you are concerned about is in immediate danger and needs emergency help, always call 999. Kent County Council (KCC) have overall responsibility to investigate safeguarding concerns and look at ways in which an individual or family can be supported.

If you have a concern for yourself, or someone you know or you have witnessed something within the community that requires being reported as a safeguarding, you can do this through KCC.

Emergency and out of hours

Call 03000 41 91 91 if you need to contact KCC outside of normal office hours, for example during the night or at the weekend.

More information on safeguarding can be found on the KCC website along with other ways to report a concern.

Care and support needs

Some adults may not be at risk of abuse or harm in terms of safeguarding but may require support to help with personal care, wellbeing, and keeping themselves and their home safe and might benefit from a care needs assessment.

You can request an assessment through KCC for yourself or someone else by:

Mental health support

If you or someone you know is experiencing significant difficulty with mental health and their life is in danger, always call 999. Anyone experiencing an urgent mental health crisis can call 111 and select the option for mental health when prompted to speak to a specially trained mental health practitioner.

Support in Maidstone

Release The Pressure

Phone: 0800 107 0160 or text the word 'Kent' to 85258. You can also webchat with the Release The Pressure helpline.

Mid Kent Mind

Providing support for better mental health and inclusion. Supporting individuals, tackling stigma, and promoting understanding.

Mental Health Matters

Samaritans

Maidstone Safe Haven

Kent and Medway Safe Haven offer out-of-hours mental health support to anyone aged 16+ in the Kent area.