Safeguarding Mission Statement
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to protecting children, adults and carers from abuse, harm and neglect. Everyone who uses our services has the right to feel safe, and we take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously.
Our staff are trained to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns, and we make sure they understand their duties and know how to get support. We work closely with local partners and follow national safeguarding laws and guidance.
We use a Think Family approach, which means we consider the needs of the whole family – including carers and children – when supporting any individual. This helps us identify risks early and provide coordinated, person‑centred care.
Keeping people safe is everyone’s responsibility, and we are committed to creating a safe environment.
What is Abuse?
Abuse is any action – or lack of action – that causes harm, injury, exploitation, or distress to a child or adult at risk. It includes physical, emotional, sexual, financial, or neglectful behaviour that violates a person’s rights, safety, or wellbeing
Types of Abuse (Adults)
- Discriminatory – harassment or insults or harm based on someone’s gender or race disability etc.
- Domestic abuse -includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial or ‘honour-based’ abuse
- Physical abuse – hitting, slapping, punching, unreasonable restraint, locking someone in a room
- Psychological abuse – intimidation, bullying, taunting, humiliating, ignoring, controlling and coercing
- Financial abuse – theft, fraud, coercing someone to do something against their will in relation to their financial affairs, ie property, wills, inheritance etc)
- Neglect – ignoring medical, emotional, physical needs, failing to provide access to medical treatment; withholding necessities such as medication, food or drink
- Organisational – neglect, poor care in an institutional setting. There could be a culture of bullying, lack of resources, lack of dignity and respect for service users
- Self-neglect -involves a person neglecting to care for themselves, their hygiene or environment and behaviour such as hoarding
- Modern slavery – includes deception and coercion into a life of slavery and domestic servitude; human trafficking and forced labour
- Sexual abuse – includes rape; inappropriate touching, forcing someone to witness or take part in a sexual activity against their will
Types of Abuse (Children and Young People)
Physical Abuse
When a child is deliberately hurt or injured, for example by hitting, shaking, burning or poisoning.
It can cause pain, injuries and long‑term harm to a child’s health and wellbeing.
Emotional Abuse
When a child is made to feel frightened, unloved, worthless or unsafe.
This can include constant criticism, threats, rejection or exposing a child to distress.
Sexual Abuse
When a child is pressured, forced or tricked into sexual activities or conversations.
This includes physical contact and non‑contact abuse such as grooming or online exploitation.
Neglect
When a child’s basic needs are not met over time.
This includes lack of food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, supervision or emotional support.
Other Forms of Abuse and Harm
Domestic Abuse
When a child sees, hears or experiences abuse between adults at home this can be frightening and harmful even if the child is not directly hurt.
Domestic abuse can also happen between young people. This can include emotional, physical, sexual or controlling behaviour, including abuse that happens online or through social media.
Online Abuse
When a child is harmed through the internet or digital devices.
This includes grooming, bullying, threats or being pressured to share images or personal information.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
When a child is manipulated or coerced into sexual activity in exchange for attention, gifts or money.
Abusers often build trust before exploiting the child. This abuse can occur face to face and/or online.
Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
When a child is pressured or forced into criminal activity, such as drug dealing.
This often involves threats, control and exploitation (for example, county lines).
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
When a child’s genitals are deliberately injured or altered for non‑medical reasons.
It is illegal in the UK and causes serious physical and emotional harm.
Radicalisation
When a child is encouraged or pressured to adopt extreme views that may lead to harm to themselves or others.
This can happen online or in person and may involve isolation, manipulation or exposure to extremist ideas.
Modern Slavery
Child trafficking is where children and young people are tricked, forced or persuaded to leave their homes and are moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold.
Who Can Be Safeguarded
All children can be safeguarded.
Children must always be protected if they are being hurt, abused, or are not safe.
Children do not need to have any special conditions for safeguarding to apply.
Adults are different.
Adults can only receive safeguarding support from the Local Authority if:
They have a care and support need, and are experiencing or at risk of experiencing abuse and
are unable to protect themselves because of their care and support needs.
You may have care and support needs if you are:
-
- An older adult
- Frail or have memory or thinking problems
- Living with a learning disability or a physical disability
- Living with a long‑term illness
- Living with a mental health condition
- Struggling with drug or alcohol use
Who to Contact if You Are Worried About Abuse
If someone is in immediate danger, dial 999.
Otherwise please contact the Local Authority you live in. You can find the details in the section below.
Reporting Abuse in your Local Authority area
Birmingham
📞 Children (CASS): 0121 303 1888
Website: https://lscpbirmingham.org.uk/contact-us
📞 Adults: 0121 303 1234
Website: https://www.bsab.org/
Solihull
📞 Children (MASH): 0121 788 4300
Website: https://www.safeguardingsolihill.org.uk/lscp/
📞 Adults: 0121 704 8007
Website: https://www.safeguardingsolihull.org.uk/ssab/
Sandwell
📞 Children: See website
Website: https://www.sandwellcsp.org.uk/key-safeguarding-issues/report-a-concern/
📞 Adults: 0121 569 2266
Website: https://www.sandwellsab.org.uk/contact/
Dudley
📞 Children: 0300 555 0050
Website: https://dudleysafeguarding.org.uk/
📞 Adults: 0300 555 0055
Website: https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/care-and-health/safeguarding/
Walsall
📞 Children (MASH): 0300 555 2866
Website: https://walsallsp.co.uk/children/
📞 Adults: 0300 555 2922
Website: Safeguarding adults in Walsall | Walsall Council
Wolverhampton
📞 Children: 01902 555392
Website: Report a Concern – Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together
📞 Adults: 01902 551199
Website: Report a Concern – Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together
Coventry
📞 Children: 024 76788555
Website: Worried that someone you know is being harmed or neglected? – Coventry City Council
📞 Adults: 024 7683 3003
Website: Coventry Safeguarding Adults Board – Coventry City Council
Worcestershire
📞 Children (Family Front Door): 01905 822666
Website: Report it – Worcestershire Safeguarding Boards
📞 Adults: 01905 843189
Website: Report it – Worcestershire Safeguarding Boards
Staffordshire
📞 Children (SCAS – Staffordshire Children’s Advice & Support): 0300 111 8007
Website: https://www.staffsscp.org.uk/
📞 Adults (Safeguarding Adults): 0345 604 2719
Out of hours: 0345 604 2886 Website: https://www.ssaspb.org.uk/
How to make a complaint
If you are unhappy with your care or worried about how a staff member has behaved, you can make a complaint. You can speak to any staff member or a manager or contact the Customer Relations Team (PALS) for confidential help and support. They can explain the complaints process and make sure your concerns reach the right people.
You can contact PALS by phone on 0800 953 0045, by email at Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) or email bsmhft.customerrelations@nhs.net. The team will look into what happened and work with you to find a solution.
