Safeguarding adults can sometimes feel like a very big topic, covering a wide range of abuse. It asks us to be alert, professionally curious, to check if someone is all right. We have to work in a way that makes safeguarding personal and know when and how to share information (at times without consent). There are a number of issues (county lines, homelessness & rough sleeping and transitional safeguarding - for those moving between children's and adult services) which sit around or are linked to the safeguarding adults agenda. Whilst not categories of abuse as specified in the Care Act 2014, these are concerns which reflect wider considerations around vulnerability.
While formal responsibilities of the local authority to investigate abuse and harm would be triggered under section 42 of the Care Act if the person has care and support needs, these issues are asking us to think about the broader range of areas of vulnerability no matter what role or responsibility we hold.
When there are pressures coming at us from all sides, here are 3 simple things you can do which can help you promote adult safeguarding and raise awareness with colleagues and our communities:
Click here for statutory guidance on the safeguarding adult responsibilities under the Care Act 2014.