Safeguarding Adults

Safeguarding duties apply to adults who meet all three of the following criteria under the Care Act 2014:

1. They have care and support needs (whether or not the council is meeting those needs);
2. They are experiencing, or are at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
3. As a result of those care and support needs, they are unable to protect themselves from the risk.

This covers a wide range of people, including older people with dementia, people with physical disabilities, people with mental health conditions, and people with learning disabilities. You do not have to be a council-funded service user to be covered.

Safeguarding is not about removing people's choices. The Making Safeguarding Personal framework recognises that adults have the right to make decisions about their own lives, and that safeguarding should be person-centred and outcome-focused.

The Care Act 2014 and statutory guidance identify ten categories of abuse and neglect:

• Physical abuse — hitting, pushing, restraining, or inappropriate use of medication;
• Domestic abuse — including violence, coercive control, and psychological abuse within intimate or family relationships;
• Sexual abuse — any sexual contact without consent;
• Psychological or emotional abuse — threats, humiliation, intimidation, isolation;
• Financial or material abuse — theft, fraud, exploitation, misuse of property or benefits;
• Modern slavery — trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude;
• Discriminatory abuse — abuse motivated by or related to a protected characteristic;
• Institutional or organisational abuse — neglect or poor care within services;
• Neglect and acts of omission — failing to meet care needs, withholding food or medication;
• Self-neglect — inability or refusal to care for one's own health and safety.

If you are worried about yourself or another adult, you can report your concern to the local council's adult social care team by phone, in writing, or in person. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 first.

You do not need evidence or certainty — if you have a concern, reporting it is the right thing to do. The council will decide whether to make a formal safeguarding enquiry under Section 42 of the Care Act. If the person is not at risk but needs support, the council will signpost to appropriate services.

Concerns can also be raised with:

• The Care Quality Commission (CQC) about care homes or home care agencies;
• The police if a crime has been committed;
• The person's GP or healthcare team.

All care providers regulated by the CQC are required to make safeguarding referrals to the local authority when abuse or neglect is identified or suspected. Failure to do so can result in regulatory action by the CQC.

When the council decides a Section 42 enquiry is needed, it will appoint a lead professional (usually a social worker) to investigate. The enquiry aims to establish whether abuse or neglect has occurred, who is involved, and what action is needed to protect the adult.

The process should involve the adult concerned as much as possible and respect their wishes — including their right to make unwise decisions about their own life. If the adult lacks mental capacity, the council must follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and act in their best interests.

At the conclusion of the enquiry, a plan will be drawn up to manage risk and meet any care needs. In serious cases, a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) may be conducted to learn lessons from the case.

The Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) in each local area oversees and coordinates safeguarding work between the council, NHS, and police. You can find contact details for your local SAB on the council website.