Information for the General Public

Accessible Guide
Sunderland People First, a self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities, has produced an easy to read guide to Sunderland’s Safeguarding Adults Procedures.

The guide is called “Alert and Protect! An Anti-Abuse Guide to Protecting Yourself and Others” and is specifically for people with learning disabilities. It explains what abuse is, how to spot it and what to do about it. It can also help people to better understand Sunderland’s safeguarding procedures.

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24 Hour Helpline
Abuse can and does happen to adults. Every day vulnerable adults are physically, psychologically, financially or sexually abused, discriminated against or neglected by others. And every day people witness this and say nothing. Would you know what to do?

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Can we help?

• If a crime is being, or has been, committed you should contact the police. In an emergency dial 999. Or you can call Northumbria Police Main Switchboard - 0191 454 7555.

• If your concern is urgent but it is outside of office hours you can telephone the Safeguarding Adults
24 hour Helpline – 0191 528 2748.

Alternatively, you can telephone Adult Services Out of Hours (Emergency)
Duty Team – 0191 528 9110.

• If you would like further information about Sunderland’s Safeguarding Adults Procedures you can contact the
Safeguarding Adults Team – 0191 566 1736 or 0191 566 1606

What is abuse?
There is no nationally agreed, single definition of adult abuse. It is suggested in ‘No Secrets’ that:

Sunderland Safeguarding Adults Partnership also recognise that:

• abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts
• abuse may be intentional or unintentional
• abuse may be perpetrated by an individual, group or organisation
• abuse often occurs when there is a misuse of power, control and/or authority

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