A Proactive, Person-Centred Approach to Safeguarding in Lincolnshire
Did you know there is a growing demand for safeguarding services to address the needs of children and adults at risk in Lincolnshire?
According to the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB), in the year leading up to March 2023 there were approximately 5,000 safeguarding concerns raised about adults with care and support needs in Lincolnshire, an increase from 4,455 the previous year. For children, the number of referrals to Children's Social Care (Lincolnshire County Council) has been steadily increasing – in 2023/24 there were almost 8,000 referrals, an increase of around 12% since 2022/23.
This growing demand speaks volumes. People need support and they need it from services that listen, collaborate, and truly care.
Safeguarding starts with Connection
As Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Week (23rd–27th June 2025) kicks off, at Lincolnshire Action Trust (LAT) we are reinforcing what we believe in: safeguarding that’s proactive, person-centred, and grounded in real-life experiences.
Safeguarding isn’t just about policies and procedures, it’s about people. It’s about recognising that when someone is struggling, the signs are not always obvious. A smile might mask coercive control, addiction, housing instability, or deep trauma. Often, these issues overlap with challenges like:
- Rural isolation
- Patchy public transport
- Under-resourced local services
That’s why we work hard to build strong relationships across sectors from housing and healthcare to criminal justice, social care, and the voluntary sector. When services pull together, we can offer more than just short-term fixes we can make meaningful, lasting change.
Listening not just responding
Our team is involved at a strategic level across Lincolnshire contributing to groups like the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Adults Board and helping to shape more trauma-informed ways of working.
We're proud to be part of the MEAM (Making Every Adult Matter) network, which brings national best practice to the local level. One of the tools we use is the Team Around Me Toolkit a person-led model that gives individuals a real say in their own safeguarding and support planning.
It’s about dignity. It’s about choice. And it works, both in improving outcomes for individuals and easing pressure on services.
Why Every Voice Matters
You might think your concern is too small to report but it’s often those small pieces of information that help build the bigger picture.
Not every safeguarding issue leads to formal intervention from adult social care especially if the person doesn’t meet eligibility thresholds. But that doesn’t mean they’re not at risk.
They may appear to be managing on their own, but behind closed doors, things could be very different. Coercive control, manipulation, fear are not always visible, but they are real. And they demand a creative, coordinated, multi-agency response.
Putting Safeguarding at the Heart of What We Do
At LAT, we see safeguarding as something that should be built into everything we do, not just something we respond to in a crisis.
Our approach is based on four key principles:
- Transparency – being clear and honest about how safeguarding decisions are made.
- Autonomy – supporting people to make informed choices, even when things are tough.
- Collaboration – trust and teamwork are essential. We never work in silos.
- Advocacy – sometimes, the best safeguarding tools are simple: listening, signposting, and sharing the right information at the right time.
Our work spans everything from frontline support to strategic partnerships, always with the same goal to protect people from harm and uphold their dignity. Especially those whose struggles are often unseen or misunderstood.
Looking ahead
Safeguarding isn’t easy. It’s complex, emotional, and full of grey areas. But by working together across services, sectors, and communities we can create a safer, more compassionate Lincolnshire.
Not just this week. Every week!
Get involved
The Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP), is running a series of webinars throughout Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Week - open to professionals, parents and carers. Topics will cover a range of issues from online safety to exploitation. For more information and to register for the webinars click here.
Want to know more information on LAT safeguarding work call us on 01522 806611 or email us at hello@LATcharity.org.uk.
