Protecting adults from abuse
Who is an adult at risk?
An adult at risk is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to take care of themselves, or protect themselves from harm or from being exploited.
This may be because they have a mental health problem, a disability, a sensory impairment or have some form of illness or are old and frail.
Abuse is mistreating or neglecting someone so that it has a negative impact on their quality of life. Abuse of adults can happen anywhere; at home, in a care home, a hospital, in the workplace, at a day centre or educational establishment, in supported housing or in the street.
If you think an adult at risk is being abused or someone is abusing you, please contact Lambeth Adults' and Community Services on 020 7926 5555 (9.00am to 5.00pm) or 020 7926 1000 (outside office hours) as soon as possible. In an emergency always dial 999.
Your concerns will be taken seriously and you will receive prompt attention and advice.
If you feel you are being abused, neglected or mistreated and feel unable to call us yourself, tell someone you trust and ask them to do it for you.
The person who is responsible for the abuse is often known to the person abused.
If the abuse is also a crime such as assault, racial harassment, rape or theft you should contact the police to report a crime. However if you are worried about contacting the police you can always contact us to talk things over first.
This is a group of made up of representatives from the agencies and bodies which have regular contact with adults at risk or have responsibility for the services offered to them in the local area. It includes police, health services, local voluntary services, housing and the local authority.
Agencies and services across London now follow the "Protecting adults at risk: London multi-agency policies and procedures to safeguard adults from abuse".