What is adult safeguarding?
Adult safeguarding is protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and to make choices about what happens in your life.
Abuse occurs when someone exploits another person or treats them in a way that harms or hurts them. It can happen once or on multiple occasions. People who abuse are not always strangers. They can also be: partners, relatives, a friend, neighbour or carer. Abuse is always wrong and it can happen to anyone and anywhere.
Types of abuse
Abuse can happen anywhere and by anyone. Whether it's something big that's happening now, or small acts that build up over a long time, it's still abuse.
Discover the 10 main categories of abuse.
Enquiries about safeguarding
There are two types of safeguarding enquiries based on if the person fits the criteria in Section 42 of the Care Act 2014. If they do, it’s a legal requirement to conduct an enquiry called a Statutory S42 Safeguarding Enquiry. These will be made if someone:
- is experiencing, or at risk of abuse and neglect
- has care and support needs
- is unable to protect themselves from the risk of abuse or neglect because of their needs.
We will sometimes make an enquiry for someone who does not meet the Section 42 Care Act 2014 criteria. This is called a Non-Statutory Enquiry. These enquiries may be made for those who:
- are thought to be experiencing, or are at risk of abuse or neglect
- do not have care and support needs (they may just have support needs). This could be a carer that is experiencing abuse, either intentional or unintentional.
Safeguarding children
Concerned about a child? Learn how to spot the signs of child abuse and find out how to report your concerns.
Making safeguarding personal
Making safeguarding personal is about professionals working with you to make sure the support you get is personal and meaningful to you. It means we speak to the person to find out:
- how they feel
- what they want to happen next
- the best way to keep them safe and make their life better.
Find out more about we make safeguarding personal.
Deprivation of library safeguards (DoLS)
The deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS), makes sure anyone who cannot consent to their care arrangements in a care home or hospital are protected if those arrangements deprive them of their liberty. A person who is being deprived of their liberty as a result of their care needs is entitled to legal safeguards. This is to make sure that the restrictions in place to keep them safe are appropriate and proportionate.
Advocacy
An advocate is a trained professional. They are fair, independent and impartial. They will keep your information confidential and support you to make sure that:
- your views and rights are respected
- you are treated fairly
- your concerns are taken into account
- you have real control over the big decisions in your life.
They can also help you to:
- speak up in meetings
- deal with difficult issues
- understand important decisions that are being made.