What is safeguarding adults

Safeguarding means protecting someone's right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It involves people and organisations working together to prevent and stop that abuse or neglect. All safeguarding will honour the feelings, beliefs and decisions of the person in question. 

Safeguarding will also recognise that people sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and they may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their own personal circumstances.

All safeguarding work is supported by six key principles:

1. empowerment - we will support and encourage people to make their own decisions and give informed consent
2. prevention - we will strive to take action before harm occurs
3. proportionality - we will give the least intrusive response to the risk presented
4. protection - we will give support and representation for those in the greatest need
5. partnership - we will provide local solutions through local community services – communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse
6. accountability - we insist upon accountability and transparency in all safeguarding practices

Adults who fall under the below categories may be in need of safeguarding. This list, however, is not exhaustive. 

They may, for example: 

• have care needs and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) 
• are at risk of, or who have a history with, abuse or neglect
• be unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect due to their care needs

They may, for example, also:

• be frail due to age, ill health, physical disability or cognitive impairment, or a combination of these
• have a learning disability
• have a physical disability and/or a sensory impairment
• have mental health needs, such as dementia or a personality disorder
• have a long-term illness/condition
• suffer from alcohol or substance abuse
• be unable to demonstrate enough mental capacity to make decisions and are in need of care and support