If you have any concerns that a child, young person or vulnerable adult may be at risk of harm, neglect or abuse you have a responsibility to pass on these concerns to the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board or Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board.
Oxfordshire Safeguarding Boards
Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
Download the Oxford City Council Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
Causes of harm, neglect or abuse may include:
Sexual abuse
This may involve forcing or enticing a child, young person or vulnerable adult to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the person is aware of what is happening.
Physical abuse
This may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm.
Emotional abuse
The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child, young person or vulnerable adult, such as to cause sever and persistent adverse effects on the persons emotional development. This may involve:
- conveying to people that they are worthless
- inappropriate expectations being imposed upon people
- hearing and seeing the maltreatment of another person
- cyber bullying. (bullying through use of email, texts or social media sites).
Neglect
The persistent failure to meet the child's, young person's or vulnerable adult's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of the child's health and development. This may involve:
- substance misuse whilst pregnant
- inadequate supervision
- lack of provision of basic needs, such as food, clothing and bedding.
Financial abuse
Including theft, fraud, or exploitation and the misuse of position or authority for financial gain. This may include stealing and withholding money from a person.
Allegations against staff
If you wish to make an allegation about a volunteer or staff member it must be reported to the Head of Business Improvement, immediately. She will ensure that the correct steps are followed and advise on any further actions that need to be taken.
Useful Contacts
- Oxfordshire County Council Assessment Team - 0845 050 7666
- Oxfordshire County Council Emergency Duty Team (After 5pm Mon - Thur and 4pm on Fri) - 0800 833408
- Non Emergency Police Team (For reporting historic concerns) - 101
Oxford City Council Designated Safeguarding Leads
Nerys Parry, Head of Housing
nparry@oxford.gov.uk
Helen Bishop, Head of Business Improvement
hbishop@oxford.gov.uk
Richard Adams, Community Safety Service Manager
rjadams@oxford.gov.uk
Safeguarding Self-assessment
Download our latest Safeguarding Self-assessment Audits
Preventing extremism
Modern Slavery
More information
For those receiving support from our housing services visit our Protection from Abuse page.
For more information on domestic violence, visit our Domestic Abuse page.
