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What is Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everybody’s business. Safeguarding adults means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.

The Care Act 2014 sets out a clear legal framework for how local authorities and other parts of the system should protect adults who are experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect.

Section 42 of the Care Act states that safeguarding enquiries should be made where:

  • a person has needs for care and support;
  • is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
  • as a result of their care and support needs, is unable to protect him or herself against the abuse or neglect, or the risk of it.

The aims of adult safeguarding are to:

  • stop abuse or neglect wherever possible;
  • prevent harm and reduce risk of abuse and neglect for those adults with care and support needs;
  • safeguard adults in a way that supports them in making choices and having control about how they want to live;
  • promote an approach that concentrates on improving the well-being of the adult concerned;
  • raise public awareness so that communities as a whole, alongside professionals, play their part in preventing, identifying and responding to abuse and neglect;
  • provide information and support in accessible formats to help people understand the different types of abuse and neglect, and how to stay safe and how to raise safeguarding concerns;
  • address the causes of abuse and neglect

There are ten specific categories of abuse and neglect identified in the Care Act. In the next part of this section you can find further details on each of these categories of abuse and neglect as well as how to raise a safeguarding concern if a person with care and support needs is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect and is unable to protect themselves.

For further guidance on identifying whether abuse or neglect may be taking place, or alternative actions that could be considered to support well-being please refer to the Pan-Sussex Safeguarding Thresholds Guidance.

Thresholds Guidance – Brighton SAB (bhsab.org.uk) 

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