The Mental Capacity Act

• experiencing domestic abuse;

• misusing drugs and / or alcohol;

• badly treated and forced to work for little or no pay; or

• forced to marry.

The abuse may be an isolated incident or happen repeatedly over time. Harm or abuse could be deliberate but could also be the result of poor care. A person may be neglected, persuaded to agree to something against their will or taken advantage of because they do not fully understand the consequences of their choices or actions.

If you think this applies to you, or that another adult is at risk of, or is being abused or neglected, please contact your local Adult Social Care and Health department for advice and support.

Please contact the police if a crime has been committed.

The Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove has a leaflet called ‘What to do if you think someone is being abused, neglected or exploited’, which is available from Health and Social Care Connect or at eastsussexsab.org.uk/

publications/safeguarding-leaflets

In Brighton & Hove, suspected abuse can be reported directly by filling in a safeguarding concern form at brighton-hove.gov.uk/report-

safeguarding-concern

In East Sussex, suspected abuse can be reported directly by filling in the online concern form at eastsussex.gov.uk/adultsafeguarding or by emailing HSCC@eastsussex.gov.uk

By law, care homes and agencies supplying care workers must carry out rigorous checks on anyone they intend to employ. Care providers and suppliers of care workers must also contact the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if, in their view, any person they employ is guilty of misconduct that has harmed, or put at risk of harm, an ‘adult at risk’.

For more information, advice, or to report a safeguarding concern, use the following contact details.

East Sussex

Health and Social Care Connect Open 8.00am to 8.00pm, seven days a week, including bank holidays. Tel: 0345 60 80 191 Email: HSCC@eastsussex.gov.uk Text: 07797 878111 Minicom via type talk: 18001 0345 60 80 191 Web: eastsussex.gov.uk/social-care

Brighton & Hove

Adult Social Care Access Point Tel: 01273 295555 Minicom: 01273 296205 Email:

HASCSafeguardingHub@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Web: brighton-hove.gov.uk/adult-social-care

If you suspect a crime has been committed, contact Sussex Police on 101. In an emergency, you should call 999 for immediate help.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005* is the legislation applied to people over the age of 16 to empower and protect those who may not be able to make some decisions for themselves. All adults have the right to make their own decisions about their own lives, including decisions about their care and support. Wherever possible, people should be helped and supported to make their own decisions. Many decisions are covered by the Act from simple things like what to eat, to more complicated decisions like where to live and medical treatment.

*Please note that reforms will be taking place to the Mental Capacity Act in 2022. Visit

gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-the-

mental-health-act for updates.