what is adult safeguarding

Adult safeguarding is the process of protecting adults with care and support needs from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organizations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted, including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings, and beliefs in deciding on any action. The aims of adult safeguarding are to prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect to adults with care and support needs, stop abuse or neglect wherever possible, 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 adults 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 ways to help people understand the different types of abuse, how to stay safe, and what to do to raise a concern about the safety or well-being of an adult, and address what has caused the abuse or neglect. The formal safeguarding process applies to adults who, because of issues such as dementia, learning disability, mental ill-health, or substance abuse, have care and support needs that may make them more vulnerable to abuse or neglect.