Keeping people safe from neglect and abuse

There were 2,133 safeguarding concerns raised in 2023-24 (1,791 in 2022-23).

Of these concerns, 1,556  met the criteria and proceeded to a Section 42 enquiry (1,172 in 2022-23). (A Care Act 2014 Section 42 enquiry is held if there is reason to believe that abuse or neglect is taking place).  

It is important to note that an individual may have experienced more than one type of abuse and, therefore, multiple abuse types may be entered for one person. This year, of the concluded enquiries:

• concerns regarding ‘neglect and acts of omission’* accounted for 579 individuals (532 in 2022-23);
• financial abuse 240 individuals (185 in 2022-23); and
• physical abuse for 194 individuals (184 in 2022-23).

These three categories total 1,013 individuals (901 in 2022-23). Neglect and ‘acts of omission’ have been the most reported form of abuse over the past six years.

*Neglect and acts of omission occur whenever an individual with responsibility for meeting the needs of an adult at risk does any of the following.

• Ignores their medical, emotional or physical care needs;
• Fails to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services;
• Withholds any of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.

Of the concerns received where the Section 42 criteria were met, those with physical support needs were the most likely to require an enquiry. This accounted for 457 individuals (386 in 2022-23). The next most common category is those who had no recorded support reason and this accounted for 368 individuals (298 in 2022-23).

The limitation of the gender categories currently available are acknowledged.

Of the enquiries undertaken in 2023-24 , 768 were for women and 554 were for men (661 and 409 respectively in 2022-23). There were 12 enquiries undertaken where an individual’s gender was not documented (24 in 2022-23). As with previous years , the majority of adults involved in a enquiry were over 65 years old, which accounts for a total of 854 individuals (719 in 2022-23). The highest proportion of this figure was for those aged 85-94 years old, accounting for 329 individuals (291 in 2022-23)

The vast majority of enquiries were for adults who identified as White, totalling 1,128 individuals (920 in 2022-23). The data reflects the overall proportion of people’s ethnicities in West Sussex and is consistent with previous years.

For completed enquiries, abuse and/or neglect in residential and nursing homes accounted for 538 individuals and 472 living in their own home (439 and 398 respectively in 2022-23). Whilst the most likely location to experience abuse remains residential and nursing homes, the gap for this has continued to reduce. 

This means that adults are fully involved in the safeguarding process and are asked about the outcomes they want to achieve.

As part of a Section 42 enquiry a total of 751 individuals expressed their desired outcome. (655 in 2022-23).  Of the concluded enquiries, 410 people had these fully achieved and 341 had these partially achieved. (313 and 342 respectively in 2022-23).

For the enquiries concluded this year, there were 617 individuals where action was taken to reduce risk (511 in 2022-23). There were 328 individuals where the risk was removed (305 in 2022-23) and 98 people where action was taken and the risk remained (69 in 2022-23).

For more detailed information please see the West Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board Annual report 2023-24. 

We continue to work to embed feedback from people we support into the safeguarding processes.