Introduction

Safeguarding is defined as; “protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse or It is about preventing and responding to concerns of abuse or neglect of adults with care and support needs. Staff should work together in partnership with adults so that they are:

• • Safe and able to protect themselves from abuse and neglect
  • Treated fairly and with dignity and respect
  • Protected when they need to be
  • Able easily to get the support, protection, and services that they need

The aims of Adult Safeguarding are to:

• • Stop abuse or neglect wherever possible
  • Prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect to 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 life for the adult concerned
  • Raise public awareness so that communities, alongside professionals, play their part in preventing, identifying and responding to abuse and neglect
  • Provide information and support in accessible ways to help adults understand the different types of abuse, how to stay safe and what to do to raise concern about the safety or well- being of an adult and
  • Address what has caused the abuse

It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adults’ wellbeing is promoted, including, where appropriate having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action. This must recognise that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances.

It is important to remember that safeguarding enquiries are NOT a substitute for:

• • Providers of services taking responsibility for providing safe and good quality health and social care support.
  • Regularly assuring themselves of the safety and effectiveness of commissioned services.
  • Effective clinical and care governance processes.
  • Regulators ensuring regulated providers comply with the expected standards of care and taking enforcement action where necessary.
  • Criminal activity being effectively managed including enforcing the core duties of police and other organisations and agencies to prevent and detect crime and protect life and property.

Statutory Adult Safeguarding Duties apply to any adult aged 18 years or over:

• • who has care and support needs (irrespective of the level of those needs, whether or not those needs are being met and/or who is funding any provision)
  • is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect and
  • as a result of those care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from the risk or experience of abuse or neglect

If an adult can protect themselves, despite having care and support needs, a safeguarding response may not be appropriate. There will however be occasions wherein public interest, vital interest or Inherent Jurisdiction thresholds are suggested, and these must be factored into the Local Authorities’ decision-making.

Where criteria are not met and there is no public interest, vital interest or Inherent Jurisdiction element, the Adult Safeguarding framework may still be applied with the adults’ consent using Powers under the Care Act and wherein the intervention is going to support the wellbeing and prevention agendas enshrined in the Act.

Where concerns of abuse or neglect relate to a person under 18 years of age, these should be reported to Children’s Services: Bracknell Forest Safeguarding, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Reading Borough Council, Slough Borough Council, West Berkshire Council and Wokingham Borough Council.

Where someone is aged 18 or over but is still receiving support from Children’s Services, any concerns should be dealt with through Adult Safeguarding arrangements. Where appropriate, children’s colleagues should be involved as relevant partners alongside other people relevant to the situation.

Carers and safeguarding, a safeguarding response may or may not be appropriate for informal carers see sections 119-123.

Adults in custodial settings, i.e., prisons and approved premises are outside the scope of these procedures.  HM Prison & Probation Service are responsible for these arrangements.