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Is someone hurting you, or treating you badly?
Are you concerned about someone who may be at risk of harm or neglect?
Call the Adult Protection Phone Line
on 01383 602200
Information in British Sign Language(BSL):
Deaf/Hard of Hearing people can contact the Police 24 hour SMS number in an emergency. If it is not an emergency – contact Fife Council’s SMS number (this service is available 8am-8pm). Both these SMS services require the user to register. The SMS number will be sent to you upon registration. Use the Police SMS Registration and Fife Council SMS Registration Form to register.
Harm information for People with Communication Difficulties was created with the help of people from West Fife Community Support Service, and the Communication for Health Project, and features Photosymbols and Change Picture Bank images. For a paper copy, contact Shona Davidson on 08451 55 55 55 ext 442134.
If you are an organisation which provides care and support services to adults (aged 16 or over), you can report your concerns by following the Reporting Harm Protocol and using the Adult Cause for Concern Form
What is adult protection?
All adults have a right to be safe and free from harm. However some people might find it more difficult to stop harm happening to them. Fife's Adult Protection Committee is a partnership between Fife Council Social Work Service, Fife Constabulary and NHS Fife. The Committee aims to ensure the provision of support and protection to adults at risk of harm in Fife, enabling them to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives within their community.
What do I do if I am worried about someone who I think is being harmed?
If you are worried because you or someone you know is being harmed or suffering from neglect, you can telephone the Adult Protection Phone Line on 01383 602200.
If you are an organisation which provides care and support services to adults, you can report your concerns by filling out an Adult Cause for Concern Form.
Who are 'adults at risk?'
The Adult Support and Protection Act defines 'adults at risk' as individuals aged 16 years or over who:
- are unable to protect themselves, their property, rights or other interests
- are at risk of harm and
- have a disability, mental illness, or physical or mental infirmity.
What is the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act?
The Scottish Government introduced new legislation in Oct 2008 (Adult Support & Protection (Scotland) Act 2007) which provides the local authority with new powers to intervene to protect adults at risk of harm. The Act means that effective early intervention can be made where it is necessary, with the emphasis on preventing harm happening in the first place. An Easy Read version of the Act is available to download.
What will happen if I report harm?
Fife Council Social Work, NHS Fife and Fife Constabulary are working in partnership to keep people safe from harm. We have a duty to inquire and investigate cases where harm is known or suspected. Staff will work closely with the adult at risk to decide together what action is best. If appropriate, the family of the adult at risk will also be involved in the decision making.
What is harm?
Harm includes:
- physical harm: such as slapping, punching, biting, hitting, shaking and kicking.
- psychological harm: being humiliated, intimidated, shouted at, threatened, bullied or constantly criticised. It can also mean being controlled by someone, ignored or left alone.
- sexual harm: any sexual activity that a person doesn't feel comfortable with, doesn't want or doesn't understand.
- financial harm: feeling under pressure to hand over money or possessions. Exploitation of property or welfare benefits or stopping someone getting their money or possessions. Stealing, cheating or fraud. Being under pressure to re-write a Will.
- neglect: being denied food or heating, medication, privacy, dignity or personal care.
- self-harm/self-neglect: when you don't look after yourself or harm yourself
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For more information, download the Adult Protection Leaflet or the Easy Read version. A poster is also available for download. All this information will be available in public buildings across Fife. If your organisation requires further paper copies of the leaflet/poster, please get in touch with Shona Davidson on the details provided below.
Where can harm happen?
Harm can happen anywhere - in a person's own home, in a residential or nursing home, a hospital, day centre, at work or in a public place.
Who causes harm?
Anyone can cause harm.
What is the Multi-Agency Adult Protection Guidance?
These procedures support the safeguarding of adults at risk of harm and give guidance to staff as to what action to take if it is reported that an adult is at risk. Fife takes the protection of vulnerable adults extremely seriously and the guidelines give clarity to all staff involved in their care and the part they play in meeting the legislation. These procedures highlight the need for all agencies to work together to make sure that people in the community who are at risk of harm are appropriately supported. This Guidance was revised in April 2011.
Fife Adult Protection Committee's Biennial Report details the work of the APC between 2008-2010. To access the Report's Appendices, please contact Shona Davidson to have the information emailed directly to you.
All weblinked information is also available to download from the 'Publications' section of this page.
Reports of harm should be made to the Adult Protection Phoneline on 01383 602200 or by phoning 999 if you feel you are in danger.
For more information contact
Adult ProtectionTel: 01383 602200
