Our offices are closed for the Christmas period from 5pm on Christmas Eve and will reopen on Friday 2nd January 2026. 
Should you have any repairs enquiries, including Health and Safety matters, please call our Repairs Team direct on 0808 169 1969 or 0300 304 5000, option 1.

Safeguarding

Abuse, neglect or harm of any kind, is always unacceptable.

We're committed to doing everything in our power to keep people safe. 

We have a key safeguarding role to play, alongside professionals in social care, health and the police, in keeping people safe.

The #Safetosay campaign developed a new approach to safeguarding. We want to maintain a strong safeguarding culture so will take every opportunity to openly discuss safeguarding issues and encourage all staff at all levels (and customers) to speak up if something doesn’t seem right. 

Safeguarding Contacts

Safeguarding Children and Young Adults

If you are concerned that a child or young person is being harmed or neglected or is at risk of this you should contact the below:

Where there are concerns about the immediate welfare or safety of a child/young person:

During working hours:
Essex: 0345 603 7627
Southend: 01702 215007
Thurrock: 01375 652802

Out of hours:
(5.30pm - 9.00am Monday - Thursday, 4.30pm Friday - 9.00am Monday and Bank holidays)

Southend and Essex:
Tel: 0345 606 1212
Email:
fct@southend.gov.uk (Southend)
Emergency.DutyTeamOutOfHours@essex.gov.uk (Essex)

Thurrock:
Tel: 01375 372468

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000

Police: 101 or 999

Childline: 0800 1111 (Free)

If you would like further information about the Southend Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) you can do so by visiting https://www.safeguardingsouthend.co.uk/ and Essex Safeguarding Children's Board you can do so by visiting: www.escb.co.uk

 

Safeguarding Adults

Abuse of adults is never okay. If you are being abused, or believe that someone is being abused it is vital that you tell someone. Do this as soon as you can using one of the contact numbers below:

 Police : 101 or 999

Social Care Direct: 0345 6037630 - Essex - Southend :01702 215008 - Thurrock: 01375 511000

If you would like further information about the Essex Safeguarding Adults Board you can do so by visiting: www.essexsab.org.uk

Details of other useful Safeguarding website links for other areas are also available.

Safeguarding Leads

Our + Corporate Safeguarding Policy [pdf] 464KB document is available to download and includes the details of our Safeguarding Leads.

Our Strategic Safeguarding Lead is:  

Helen Gregory – Director of Customer Services

Contact details: 0300 304 5000
helen.gregory@estuary.co.uk 

Our Housing Operational Safeguarding Lead is:

Susan Harland - Housing Operations Manager

Contact details: 0300 304 5000
susan.harland@estuary.co.uk 

Our Supported Living Operational Safeguarding Lead is:

Lucy Drake - Head of Care and Support Operations

Contact details: 0300 304 5000
lucy.drake@estuary.co.uk 

 

 

Safeguarding Leadership Panel

Whilst safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, we have a quarterly Safeguarding Leadership Panel that is made up of our Resident Voice and Influence Members and a ‘Champion’ representative from each department across the business. Each Champion is responsible for ensuring safeguarding becomes part of their day-to-day business, and that all staff know who to talk to and what to do should they have a concern.

Purpose  

Started in 2020, the key focus for this group is to share, review and use examples of good practice and explore ways to make improvements for the safeguarding of our customers. 

Our Meetings 

At these Panels, guest speakers attend to share their experiences and knowledge. Previous representatives include Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA), Children’s Services – ‘see the signs’ campaign and County Lines introduction, Living Room – awareness & support for hoarding behaviour and Andy’s Man Club and ManKind- support for men. 

Benefits of the Group

We're very lucky to have the opportunity to work closely with our customers and give them the opportunity to share their feedback and hold our business accountable.

What Our Residents Think

RVIP Member Heather stated; 

“I find the meetings very informative and was really impressed by the measures Estuary are going to take in this area. The guest speaker was fantastic, and it highlighted the problem and lack of resources that are available for male victims of DA/DV. I suggested making a specific mention regarding this on the Estuary website and was told they would look into doing something. This really shows that Estuary listens to residents' concerns”