Adult safeguarding duties apply to an adult who:
- Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and;
- 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 either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.
If you have concerns about someone who does not meet these criteria then they will not be able to access Adult Safeguarding. However, you should consider what help is available to them and assist them in seeking that help.
There are five stages in dealing with a safeguarding matter.
Click here to view the full procedures or use the link buttons below to ‘jump’ to the relevant section in the procedures.
Stage 1 – Recognising a safeguarding adult concern
Stage 2 – What to do if… I am concerned that an Adult at Risk is being abused
Stage 3 – MASH Risk Assessment and Triage
Stage 4 – Section 42 Safeguarding Enquiry
Stage 5 – Review and Closure
The adult at risk must be included throughout the stages and the level of intervention will be proportionate to the risks and outcomes identified.
When a provider or partner is asked to undertake a Safeguarding Adults S42 Enquiry, the MASH or relevant Social Care Locality Team will provide an email address to where the completed report should be submitted within an agreed timescale. The Provider S42 Enquiry Report template and Factsheet can be found here
In an emergency dial 999 for an ambulance and/or the police