Orkney Islands Council work with the NHS, Police, private and voluntary sector, to ensure adults at risk in Orkney are protected from harm.
Adult Support and Protection
You may find our (Easy read documents) leaflets useful.
Adults (16 years and over) may be at risk of harm due to:
- Mental illness
- Old age
- Frailty or physical weakness
- Physical or learning disability
- Visual or hearing impairment
- Harm may be physical, emotional sexual, financial or caused by neglect.
Reporting Concerns
You may see and hear things that make you worry about an adult’s welfare and safety or you may be worried about yourself.
To report any concerns please contact Adult Social Work on 01856 873535 extension 2643 who will assist you.
If your call is before 9am or after 5pm please call the Balfour Hospital Switch Board on 01856 888000 and ask for the Out of Hours Social Worker.
If you are very worried about someone’s immediate safety, you can call the Police on 101.
Further information can be found in the ASP - Everyone's business (iriss.org.uk) report.
The Adult Support and Protection Sub-Committee
Adult Support and Protection is a sub-committee of the Orkney Public Protection Committee. Members of the Adult Support and Protection Committee include:
- Orkney Islands Council
- NHS Orkney
- Police Scotland
- Procurator Fiscal Service
- Voluntary Action Orkney and other Third Sector Partners
- The Care Inspectorate
The Orkney Public Protection Committee have several committee meetings covering specialist areas in Children and Adult Services, these groups meet one every 3 months to ensure work progresses and we are continuing to develop services.
"Tell Someone" campaign
Tell Someone is a campaign created to raise awareness about Adult Support and Protection Act 2007. Find the movies with the Tell Someone video and more information.
Financial harm
Financial harm is caused by the illegal or improper use of an individual's money or property by another person without their consent or through undue pressure.
Financial harm covers theft, fraud, pressure to hand over or sign over property or money, misuse of property or welfare benefits, stopping someone getting their money or possessions, being scammed by rogue traders, online scams, by email, telephone or by post.
Find out more at the Act Against Harm website.
'Adults need protecting too' campaign
Glasgow City Council put together a TV campaign to focus on the financial abuse of the elderly, the day to day abuse suffered by adults with learning disabilities and how long term alcohol abuse can affect a person's ability to look after themselves. The video is available online.
Seen something? Say something.
Act Against Harm and the Scottish Government have put together a video to encourage the reporting of potential risk of harm to adults. It should be no different between if you thought an adult or a child were at risk, you should do something about it. If your instinct tells you something isn't right, don't keep it to yourself. The video is available to watch online. Contact the
Further information
You can also visit our resource library where you can access links to the legislation, literature and partner websites.
