If you cannot speak but need assistance, type 55, and you will be connected to the police, who can locate you.
The emergency services call handlers are skilled at asking the right questions to make sure you receive the best possible support.
If it’s not an emergency and you think a crime has been committed, call 101 to speak to the police.
As a social housing provider, we have a responsibility to ensure our customers are safe and to act if we become aware of anyone who is suffering, or at risk of suffering harm.
If you’re not in immediate danger but are feeling overwhelmed or anxious about something there will be help available to you.
At Orbit we have Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and a dedicated safeguarding team who can identify support that may be available for you and signpost you to internal or external services who will help to keep you safe.
If we have concerns about your safety, we may need to reach out to other organisations, such as the local council, to ensure you receive the appropriate support. We will seek your permission where and when possible.
If you notice anything that makes you worry about someone's safety or well-being, especially if it’s a child or vulnerable adult, it's important to report it right away. Speaking up is always the right choice and could significantly impact someone's life for the better or even keep them safe from future harm.
If a child or young person is in danger or at immediate risk of harm please contact the police on 999.
Child abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. You can read more about the signs of child abuse on the NSPCC website.
Not all neglect is intentional. Children may bare the side effects of difficulty experienced by a parent. By reaching out to children’s services, designed to help the child, the parent will also be supported. This ultimately keeps the child safe and improves their quality of life.
You don’t need to be sure that a child or young person has been abused - it’s OK to report a suspicion to agencies who will know what to do to help.
If you think a child or young person is at risk or being abused or neglected:
If you are a young person and need support, because you are worried about yourself or someone else, you can contact ChildLine: www.childline.org.uk or call 0800 1111.
If someone is in danger or at immediate risk of harm you should always contact the police on 999.
Are you worried about someone because you think:
They may not realise they’re being abused or neglected or may be unable to speak out about their abuse. Reporting concerns of adult abuse can make sure that the person is kept safe and offered the right support.
If you are concerned about someone’s safety or wellbeing, please report it directly to your local authority safeguarding team. You can find contact details for your local authority here.
Further information on contacting the Police can be found here.
If you think a situation may have knock-on effects on the welfare of a child, you can also contact NSPCC.
Safeguarding is the action taken to protect people’s rights to live safely and free from harm and neglect. Safeguarding usually refers to children, young people and vulnerable adults, but anyone at any age can experience abuse, harm, neglect or exploitation.
Local Authorities and other public agencies such as police, health and education and some charitable organisations, hold statutory safeguarding duties to respond to concerns about a person’s safety and wellbeing.
We work closely with our communities which means we’re able to identify abuse and neglect but importantly, we’re able to work with people to prevent smaller life challenges becoming safeguarding concerns.
The NHS provides more information about adult safeguarding here.
All children, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse and neglect regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or beliefs. As a housing provider, we play an important role in safeguarding, alongside our partner agencies, such as social care, health and the police, in promoting the welfare of children and young people and in protecting them from harm.
As a social housing provider, we have a responsibility to ensure our customers are safe and to act if we become aware of anyone who is suffering, or at risk of suffering harm.
We also have an opportunity to make a difference for our customers and help support positive changes in their lives.
Housing is a vital component of multi-agency safeguarding partnerships as we’re well placed to identify people who may need help or are at risk of abuse, share information and work in partnership to coordinate responses.
We’re proud to have attained Leadership in Safeguarding a registered quality mark awarded to organisations that demonstrate highly effective and robust safeguarding arrangements and a commitment to keeping children, young people and vulnerable adults safe,
If you need our advice or support you can call our Customer Hub on 0800 678 1221.
Or you can chat to us via the Chatbot service.