South Tees Safeguarding Team

04/11/2026

South Tees Safeguarding Team support Counter Terrorism Policing Winter Vigilance Campaign:

With a winter season full of events such as Christmas shopping, festive markets, pantomimes, and concerts, we also know that these events and venues can be an attractive target for terrorist activity.

Research shows that proactive vigilance messaging helps reassure whilst also increasing the public’s willingness to report suspicious activity. It improves awareness of what to look for and gives people greater confidence in knowing how to take action.

Everyone has a part to play in keeping people safe, and supporting the campaign is a simple way to contribute. Public awareness is crucial, and safety is a shared responsibility – from police officers and security professionals, through to local businesses and the wider community.

25/09/2026

Series 5 - SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING

24/09/2026

Series 4 - How to raise a concern ☎️📧📨☎️

Across University Hospital Tees a safeguarding can be raised through Healthcare Guardian.

Please remember if there is any immediate danger, or you think a crime has been committed you can also contact the police or security for support.

The most important thing to do is tell someone; you can contact your local adult social care team within working hours:
Hartlepool: 01429 523390
Middlesbrough: 01642 065070
Redcar & Cleveland: 01642 771500
Stockton on Tees: 01642 527552

Or the emergency duty team (EDT) if your concern is out of hours: 01642 524552

23/09/2026

Series 3 - When to raise a concern 🗣️🗣️

The TSAB Decision Support Guidance is to support professionals, partners, and providers in Teesside to decide whether to raise a safeguarding concern with the Local Authority for an adult with needs for care and support.

22/09/2026

Series 2 - Recognising the signs 👀👀

Abuse may be hard to spot, it can be hidden, and is can take many forms.

People often don’t tell you, which can make it hard to know 🤫😕

The video below from talks through types of abuse, and the signs to look out for.

If you recognise any of these in any patient you work with, you have a responsibility to do something about it.

The safeguarding team within the trust can be contacted on 01642 850850 ext. 52241 or via email [email protected]

Video published to help raise awareness of Safeguarding.

21/09/2026

Series 1 - What is safeguarding❓🤔

Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.

The safeguarding duty under the Care Act 2014 applies to any adult who:

- has needs for care and support (whether or not the Local Authority is meeting any of those needs) and;
- is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect
- and as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

18/09/2026

To support the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board in their campaign next week, there will be a series of posts aiming to:

‼️🔦“Put the spotlight on the front door" 🔦‼️

This aims to increase confidence in identifying safeguarding concerns and understanding how to report them promptly and appropriately.

10/09/2026

We all have a duty of care to investigate all allegations against any staff, with the welfare and protection of our patients and their families being of paramount importance.

Please contact the trust safeguarding team for further advice or guidance.

25/08/2026

‼️Mental Capacity Assessment. Are We Asking the Right Question? ⁉️

Post 7. If the person lacks capacity, what next?

If a person lacks capacity for a specific decision, the process does not stop there.

The next step is a best interest’s decision. The person must still be involved as far as possible. Their wishes, feelings, beliefs and values matter. So do the views of family, friends, attorneys, deputies, or others involved in their care, where appropriate.

Any act or decision made on the person’s behalf must also be the least restrictive option available.

One final check is always worth making.

Does day-to-day practice reflect the assessment and the best interest’s outcome?

Good paperwork matters. Good practice matters even more.

If you would like guidance with an assessment, review or best interests process, please contact our MCA Lead, Will Whitelock on 01642 282879 EXT:52879 or email [email protected]

24/08/2026

‼️Mental Capacity Assessment. Are We Asking the Right Question? ⁉️

Post 6. Are we asking the right treatment question?

When the issue is care or treatment, it is important that the assessment matches the real decision.

For example, asking whether a person can accept medication is not the same as asking whether they have capacity to decide about taking or refusing that medication. The question must reflect the actual choice the person is facing.

The same applies to restrictions.

If bed rails, covert medication, constant supervision, or other restrictions are being considered, the assessment should not be an afterthought. Wherever possible, the MCA assessment should come before the decision is put into practice.

If we ask the wrong question, we risk getting the wrong answer.