What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding adults is the multi-agency procedure used to protect people from abuse or neglect. The procedures are specifically for those people who are over the age of 18 years of age who have care and support needs and are at risk of abuse of neglect and because of the care and support needs are unable to protect themselves.

This website provides information about safeguarding adults, and guidance to help you decide whether to raise a safeguarding concern.
Darlington Safeguarding Partnership has published an information leaflet [pdf document] which provides information about adults at risk of abuse and neglect, the kind of abuse that can happen, what to do if you have a concern about this and what happens when abuse is reported.

Darlington Safeguarding Partnership has a responsibility to help and protect adults (18 years and over) with care and support needs who are experiencing or are at risk of abuse or neglect. The Care Act (2014) [external link] tells us what we must do to safeguard adults.

We make sure that we listen to the views, wishes, feelings and beliefs of adults order to promote their wellbeing and we will always seek an outcome which improves the quality of life of the adult at the centre of the enquiry.

This needs the commitment of agencies to follow the same policies and procedures.
The Statement of Government Policy on Adult Safeguarding (Department of Health) [PDF document] identifies six key principles of safeguarding practice and these are reinforced by the Care Act (2014):

• Empowerment
• Prevention
• Proportionality
• Protection
• Partnership
• Accountability

This website explains what abuse and neglect means, what you can do if you or someone you know is being abused or neglected and what may happen next. Information about safeguarding children (anyone under the age of 18) can be found at the Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Procedures.