Waltham Forest Council have made a short video with key messages for volunteers to help raise awareness of safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults. Volunteers have an important role to play in safeguarding.

If you see something, say something.

For more resources and local Lambeth services, visit our information page.

Lambeth Council has given funding to domestic violence charity Refuge to help workers connect with victims during the Covid-19 outbreak, with money going towards laptops for workers to increase their ability to connect and provide help to victims as the country isolates.

Councillor Ed Davie, Lambeth’s cabinet member for health and adult social care, said the council wanted to support organisations which work to protect people. 

Temporary changes to ID checking guidelines are being made as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Update from Disclosure and Barring Service:

"Due to current measures that have been put in place as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, we’re aware that organisations are having difficulty following the DBS ID checking guidance.

Currently, when validating ID documents, it is best practice to carry the examination out face-to-face with a live video link as an alternative method. Under the current guidance, the ID checker must be in physical possession of the original documents so they can be checked for indicators of fraud.

As the public is being advised to work from home where possible, this is causing difficulties in receiving the physical documents and is delaying applications, and in some cases, preventing applications from being submitted.

To ensure that the necessary DBS checks can still be carried out, the DBS ID checking guidance will be changed for a temporary period.

The change will enable:

- ID documents to be viewed over video link

- scanned images to be used in advance of the DBS check being submitted

Please note, the change should only be implemented for urgent cases where it is not possible to follow the normal identity checking guidelines. The applicant must present the original versions of these documents when they first attend their employment or volunteering role.

The change will come into effect from 24 March 2020.

Please ensure that you follow the advice on GOV.UK around checking identity documents for indicators of fraud, which can be found here.

For more information about the changes, please contact customerservices@dbs.gov.uk" 

In an article by The National, the Hourglass charity – formerly known as Action on Elder Abuse –fears social distancing and self-isolation guidance means there is a “significant increased risk of abuse and neglect” to the older population as household tensions rise.

We all have a role to play in safeguarding adults at risk. During this pandemic, the Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board will be kept up to date with information which may be helpful to you directly or if you are trying to help someone else. It is vital that we all come together to support and protect those who are most vulnerable. People need to be encouraged to offer help to elderly and other vulnerable people in their neighbourhood using the precautions that government has outlined, to reduce transmission.

If you older person who is concerned that you may have been a target for abuse, or if you are worried about an older friend, neighbour or family member, you can also call The Hourglass Helpline on 0808 808 8141, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Trained and experienced staff and volunteers will listen to your concerns and provide suggestions and advice. The helpline is free to call and entirely confidential, and the number will not appear on your telephone bill. You can also email at helpline@wearehourglass.org

Lambeth Council also has a coronavirus helpline for people aged 70 or over and people of any age with the health conditions: 020 7926 2999 (The helpline is open from 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday).

You can also sign up for email updates about coronavirus in Lambeth.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.