MORE than 600 safeguarding concerns were flagged about vulnerable adults during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.

Age UK said abuse and neglect may have thrived behind closed doors throughout periods of lockdown, contributing to a stark national rise in the number of concerns flagged with councils between April 2020 and March this year.

NHS Digital figures show 685 concerns about adults with care and support needs were reported to the council in Blackburn with Darwen in that period, up from the 630 recorded the year before – a 9 per cent difference.

Nationally, nearly 500,000 safeguarding concerns were flagged that year, up 5 per cent from 2019-20, with the very elderly – those aged over 85 – most likely to be the subject.

Caroline Abrahams, from Age UK, said the abuse of older people was a serious concern, adding: "Hundreds of thousands of older people are being affected a year and we expect the pandemic to have made things worse.

"That's because of the heightened stress across our society and because abuse and neglect tend to thrive behind closed doors, of which there have been more than usual these last 18 months or so."

If councils believe a vulnerable adult is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect, they must carry out a Section 42 enquiry to determine whether action should be taken.

Around 440 such enquiries were launched in Blackburn with Darwen during the year to March – more than the 330 that commenced in 2019-20.

Roughly 425 such investigations concluded in 2020-21, with the council finding that the highest proportion of allegations in the area were linked to neglect and acts of omission.

The highest number of incidents took place in a person's own home with the source of risk in Blackburn with Darwen most often someone the person knew.

Sayyed Osman, Strategic Director for Adults and Health at BwD council, said: “The council encourages reporting of concerns to do with quality of care whether it translates to a safeguarding enquiry or for peace of mind.

"The fact that we have seen more reporting is positive. There have been long periods of isolation and inability to visit. It’s also a sign that it’s been a stressful and anxious time for loved ones and their cared for. Whether in a registered care regulated by the Care Quality Commission or in a domestic setting it is important that the care being provided for vulnerable people is of quality, safe and assured.”

Across England, where most incidents were likely to happen at home or in residential care, allegations of neglect, physical, psychological or financial abuse were at the centre of most investigations.

In Blackburn with Darwen, there were 145 enquiries involving neglect or acts of omission, 80 concerning physical abuse, 35 about psychological abuse and 95 investigations into financial abuse.

According to the figures – which are rounded to the nearest five – there were more than 9,000 cases linked to sexual abuse or exploitation investigated nationally.

Kate Terroni, chief inspector for adult social care at the Care Quality Commission, independent regulator of health and social care in England, described the latest figures as concerning but said providers had gone above and beyond to provide high quality care during the pandemic.

She added: "However, where concerns are brought to our attention we will not hesitate to act.

"Where we find people are at risk we will not hesitate to take further regulatory action to ensure people’s safety and human rights are upheld.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the Government was supporting councils to carry out safeguarding duties effectively and had provided billions in non ring-fenced funding to allow local authorities to continue delivering services throughout the pandemic.