Key Legislation and Guidance Relating to Safeguarding

A duty for the local authority to arrange independent advocacy if a person would otherwise be unable to participate in or understand the care and support system.

New statutory framework for protecting adults from neglect and abuse.

Duty on local authorities to carry out enquiries into suspected abuse or neglect, past or present, experienced by adults still living and deceased.

Duty to assess young people and their carers in advance of transition from children’s to adult services, where they are likely to need care and support as an adult.

The 'No Secrets' (Para 14.1) document has been replaced by Chapter 14 of the Care and Support Statutory Guidance (updated 2016).

Discriminatory abuse including forms of:

• Harassment

Slurs or similar treatment because of:

• Race

• Gender and gender identity

• Age

• Disability

• Sexual orientation

• Religion

Organisational abuse

Including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.

This covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding. It should be noted that self-neglect may not prompt a section 42 enquiry. An assessment should be made on a case by case basis. A decision on whether a response is required under safeguarding will depend on the adult’s ability to protect themselves by controlling their own behaviour. There may come a point when they are no longer able to do this, without external support.

Neglect and acts of omission including:

• Ignoring medical emotional or physical care needs

• Failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services

• The withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating

Financial or material abuse including:

• Theft

• Fraud

• Internet scamming

• Coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions

• The misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits

Psychological abuse including:

• Emotional abuse

• Threats of harm or abandonment

• Deprivation of contact

• Humiliation

• Blaming

• Controlling

• Intimidation

• Coercion

• Harassment

• Verbal abuse

• Cyber bullying

• Isolation

• Unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks