Safeguarding Adults

Safeguarding adults is concerned with protecting those at risk of abuse/harm (adult at risk) from suffering abuse or neglect.
 
It includes measures to prevent abuse and to protect people's health, wellbeing and human rights, and enable them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.
 
Abuse can happen anywhere. It can happen at home, in a residential or nursing home, in a hospital, in higher education at work or in the street. It can be intentional or unintentional.
 
The person who is responsible for the abuse is often well known to the person abused. They could be:

• A paid carer or volunteer
• A health worker, social care or other worker
• A relative, friend or neighbour
• Another resident, patient or service user
• An occasional visitor or someone who is providing a service
• Someone who deliberately exploits vulnerable people

Some acts of abuse and/or will also constitute a criminal offence.

Additional information and guiodance

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