Care & Protection Team for Older People

This is a specialist service focusing on the protection of vulnerable adults who may be experiencing abuse either in the community or in care home settings. 

Specially trained social workers can offer information, advice, support and protection for older people whose lives are affected by abuse.

What is abuse?
Vulnerable adult abuse happens in different ways. It includes:

  • physical abuse, where the abuser hits, pushes, kicks, treats the person roughly or worse.
  • mental abuse or bullying involving threats, name-calling, insults, humiliation and meanness.
  • sexual abuse, for instance being touched or hit in private places, or even being sexually assaulted. Sexual abuse can be verbal too, through comments and jokes that make the older person feel threatened or embarrassed.
  • financial abuse or theft. This can be as straightforward as someone stealing money or valuables,  or keeping some or all the money that should be used to pay bills
  • neglect - this includes not providing enough or the right kind of food for a vulnerable adult, or not taking good enough care of them. Leaving someone unwashed or in dirty or wet clothes, not getting them to a doctor when they need one or not making sure they have the right medicines all count as neglect.
  • discrimination – this is any sort of abuse because of a vulnerable persons ethnic origin, religion, language, age, sexuality, gender or disability

How to Access the Service

If you ever feel in immediate danger or think someone else may be in immediate danger, Dial 999

If you are worried about someone who is vulnerable and you think is being abused, exploited or neglected, you can contact the Care and Protection Team.

The Team operates an open referral system so anyone can contact us directly:

During normal working hours (9am – 5pm) - Tel. 028 9056 5707.
Out of Hours (5pm – 9am) – Tel 028 9056 5444

If you prefer, you can also speak to your GP or any other health care professional, and they will contact the service on your behalf.

Eligibility Criteria
This service is for:

  • anyone over the age of 65yrs and

who, because of disability, age or illness,

  • receive or need community care services or
  • live in a care home

and

  • are unable to take care of themselves or
  • unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation. 

Location