Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Information, advice and guidance surrounding safeguarding adults at risk during the coronavirus pandemic.
Responding to COVID-19
As the Government continues to deal with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic it is an essential priority to safeguard the needs of adults at risk of harm in our area.
It is imperative that people follow government guidelines on how to stay safe and what steps individuals can take.
Easy Read Information has been developed by Inclusion North. Download via the button below:
Domestic abuse and COVID-19
SafeLives
We know that this is a difficult and worrying time for everyone – but particularly so for adults and children living with abuse, and the professionals working hard to support them. The SafeLives website has dedicated pages which share resources to support people through this time:
Brief guidance for safe enquiry about domestic abuse in 'virtual' health settings
This guidance is to support health professionals to safely ask patients about domestic abuse (DA) in virtual settings for example: on the telephone, or online.
Five Rs of Asking About Domestic Abuse
Action Fraud: Vaccine scams
Action Fraud is warning the public to remain vigilant as criminals begin to take advantage of the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine to commit fraud.
The messages below can be downloaded and are to help promote safe behaviours:
Support for voluntary community sector
The Coronavirus Community Support hub was launched as a positive response to the current COVID-19 situation in the East Riding.
It offers a platform where cross-sector communities can connect, knowledge share, make offers of support and discover initiatives within their local areas. With an emphasis on enabling and removing barriers, the hub is designed to put the health and well-being of individuals as a priority during these changing times.
Supporting charities to do what they do best during the coronavirus pandemic.
HEY Smile Foundation CEO Statement - 19 March 2020
Please click the link below to access the BEECAN website:
BEECAN - The Coronavirus Community Support Hub (external website)
For updates regarding HEY Smile Foundation and joint work with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Absolutely Cultured volunteer programme, please go to their dedicated news page:
HEY Smile Foundation news (external website)
Modern slavery and COVID-19
Have you encountered someone who may be a potential victim of modern slavery?
Open the document below to find out what to look out for and how to get help:
Protection against scams during COVID-19
Friends Against Scams aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams. Information about scams to be aware of, including how to protect yourself and others, and how to report them is contained in the link below.
COVID-19 Scams Postcard (pdf 169kb)
Humberside Police Coronavirus Scam Information
Scams Advice Letter (word 70kb)
Track & Trace Scams (word 25kb)
Please be aware that not everyone out there is trustworthy and some people will take advantage of this unusual situation our society is facing.
Here are just some of the scams we are aware of, but please note that criminals come in all shapes and sizes and can contact you at the door, by phone, post or online:
- Be aware of people offering miracle cures or vaccines for coronavirus – there is no specific treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19). Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms until you recover.
- Home cleaning services
- People impersonating healthcare workers, claiming to be offering ‘home-testing’ for coronavirus – this is a scam and these kits are not currently available to buy.
- Emails saying that you can get a refund on taxes, utilities or similar are usually bogus and they are just after your personal and bank details.
- There are lots of fake products available to buy online that say they can protect you or cure coronavirus. These will not help and are designed to take your money.
- There are new mobile phone applications that claim to give you updates on the virus but instead, they lock your phone and demand a ransom.
- Your bank or the police will never ask for your bank details over the phone.
- People offering to do your shopping or collecting medication and asking for money upfront and then disappearing.
Protection against romance scams
Many people are being exposed to organised criminals who will be exploiting loneliness during lockdown to take money from romance scam victims. Feeling the kind of loneliness common among many vulnerable people during the current crisis.
Online Safety advice
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Criminals who commit romance fraud trawl through profiles and piece together information such as wealth and lifestyle, in order to manipulate their victims
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Police can investigate and help to provide support, but often cannot get the money back
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It is very simple for fraudsters to cover their tracks by masking IP addresses and using unregistered phone numbers
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Never send money to someone online you have never met
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Think twice about posting personal information that could be used to manipulate or blackmail you.
For more information on how to protect yourself and others please click the link for a useful BBC article:
BBC Coronavirus: Loneliness and lockdown exploited in romance scams (external website)
Please be aware that not everyone out there is trustworthy and some people will take advantage of this unusual situation our society is facing.
Tips to avoid being scammed:
- Be cautious and listen to your instincts. Don’t be afraid to hang up, bin it, delete it or shut the door.
- Take your time; don’t be rushed.
- If someone claims to represent a charity, ask them for ID. Be suspicious of requests for money up-front. If someone attempts you into accepting a service they are unlikely to be genuine. Check with family and friends before accepting offers of helps if you are unsure.
- If you are online, be aware of fake news and use trusted sources such as .gov.uk or NHS.uk websites. Make sure you type the addresses in and don’t click on links in emails.
- Only purchase goods from legitimate retailers and take a moment to think before parting with money or personal information.
- Know who you’re dealing with - if you need help, talk to someone you know or get in touch with your local Council on the numbers below.
- Protect your financial information, especially from people you don’t know. Never give your bank card or PIN to a stranger.
Contact information:
If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and if you need advice, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
If you are in immediate danger, contact the Police on 999.
Contact your bank if you think you have been scammed.
To learn more about different types of scams and how to protect yourself and others, visit Friends Against Scams and complete the free online training:
Friends Against Scams (external website)
Information for charities and general public in regard to scams can also be found in the War on Scams website where you will find information about the different types of scams, videos that can be used to raise awareness, as well as tips on how to avoid being a victim of a scam.
Information for volunteers during COVID-19
If you are a volunteer working as a result of the COVID-19 response please take a few minutes to watch this video to help keep vulnerable adults and children safe.
Video Transcript
Safeguarding Awareness for Volunteers
There has been an amazing response from local communities wanting to ensure their neighbours are not forgotten and getting the help they need.
To support these groups with the resources they need and ensure volunteers are safe, HEY Smile Foundation and East Riding of Yorkshire Council have compiled a range of resources within this page and established 9 Community Hubs across East Riding to help broker additional support.
Volunteering safely in the East Riding
A library of resources designed to help volunteers support their neighbours safely during COVID-19:
Scams
Information about scams to be aware of, including how to protect yourself and others, and how to report them is contained in the Protection against scams section.
Safeguarding training information during COVID-19
Please note: we are unable to deliver any face-to-face training during government restrictions and we have no way of knowing how long this might continue. In the meantime, we are keen that you have the opportunity to update and refresh your knowledge around safeguarding and have provided alternative options which are set out below.
Please access the current training pages which has details of online training which can be accessed during the current restrictions.
Safeguarding Adults COVID-19 Update e-Learning Module
This modules enables learners to develop their knowledge and skills in implementing safeguarding adults procedures with an increased level of vigilance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please click the link below for training brought to you from ERYC Adult Social Care Team:
eLearning - Safeguarding Skills: Safeguarding Adults COVID-19 Update
Learning disability support during COVID-19
The following organisations offer support to people with learning disability during and as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Learning Disability England
Learning Disability England has written this document for people and organisations that offer paid support to people with learning disabilities, provider organisations or personal assistants to help them prepare the people they support to make a decision about having the Coronavirus vaccine. We hope it will also be useful to people and families.
National Autistic Society
The coronavirus outbreak has impacted everyone’s life but for autistic people and their families, it has left them completely stranded.
This report highlights the often devastating impact this has had.
National Autistic Society report on impact of coronavirus (1.4mb)
East Riding Learning Disability Partnership Board
This meeting is for people with a learning disability, family carers and service providers in East Riding to come together to discuss what is happening for people with a learning disability in the local area.
The partnership aims to give people with a learning disability who live and work in East Riding a voice.
The partnership are always looking for people with lived experience and want to share information and ideas that will help to improve the lives of people with a learning disability and family carers.
Partnership Board Invite (193kb)
Easy Read information
We are looking for local people with a learning disability, autistic people including young people and family carers to join a group. Click the link below for more information:
Public Health England - A guide to your COVID-19 vaccination (1.6mb)](https://downloads.eastriding.org.uk/ersab/coronavirus/PHE_11843_Covid-19_Easy-read_leaflet.pdf)
As the Government continues to deal with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic it is an essential priority to safeguard the needs of the most vulnerable adults in our area.
It is imperative that people follow government guidelines on how to stay safe and what steps individuals can take. Easy Read Information has been developed by Inclusion North:
[Inclusion North - Resources, video links and audio files to help people during the Coronavirus outbreak (external website)] (https://inclusionnorth.org/our_work/coronavirus/)
Daily News - Omicron variant - 9 December 2021 Easy Read version (269kb)
The information includes:
- What is coronavirus?
- How do you get coronavirus?
- What are the things to look out for if you feel ill?
- What to do if you think you have coronavirus
- What to do if you feel ill with something else
- If you have a job and are worried about being paid if you have to self isolate or have the coronavirus
- The Government and their plan to stop coronavirus spreading
- Staying home and the rules
- Shielding people who have medical conditions
- Having your own plan
- Where you can find more information.
Are you worried that an adult is at risk?
Report a concern
Report a concern
Emergency out-of-hours number
01377 241273
01377 241273