Thousands of children and adults in the United Kingdom are living in silence, alone in fear, confusion, or simply because those around them did not recognise there was an issue. Inside schools, hospitals, care homes, sports teams and in the homes of families, vulnerable people are being subjected to threats they don’t understand or know how to escape.

In UK legislation and practice, knowing what is a safeguarding issue is not just a technical, specialist matter, but is also a civic and moral duty for anyone who works with children, older people, and people with disabilities. The concept can be applied when a vulnerable person is at risk of harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation. It may be physical, psychological, sexual or financial. It may be occurring at home or in a regulated setting, like a school or care home. Identifying it is the first step to preventing it.

This blog is a complete guide to safeguarding issues, whether you are new to the topic or need to refresh your knowledge, including what they are, what they look like, who is responsible for dealing with them and how our legal and procedural responses are required in the UK. After reading this article, you will be able to identify and report a safeguarding issue, your legal duty and what to do.

What is a Safeguarding Issue?

Knowing the definition of harm, risk, and vulnerability is the foundation of all safeguarding policies in the UK. There is a safeguarding issue when there is reasonable cause for concern that a child or adult at risk is suffering – or is at risk of suffering – harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation from another person or as a consequence of their circumstances. This may happen anywhere and at any time, and perpetrators may be strangers, family members, professionals, or organisations. The definition is deliberately broad: it prevents no environment or situation from being seen as inherently “safe”; and no relationship from being seen as inherently “off limits”.

What is a safeguarding issue in the UK? The Care Act 2014 provides the statutory framework for adult safeguarding in England. It requires local authorities to make, or cause to be made, enquiries if they have reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in their area who has care and support needs is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect. The Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004 apply to children. Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 and Working Together to Safeguard Children provide guidance on implementing these duties for schools, health and other organisations. These frameworks not only dictate what must be done, but also who must do it.

The presence of a safeguarding concern does not mean that something has already happened. It can be predictive – that is, a professional or member of the public spots risk factors that suggest the likelihood of harm is high. This form of prevention is part of the UK approach. Child protection registers, early help assessments, multi-agency safeguarding hubs (known as MASHs), and Safeguarding Adults Boards are all there, in part, to prevent issues from arising. The objective is not simply to address harm after it has taken place but to create systems and cultures that minimise the risk of harm, to begin with.

It’s also worth noting that a safeguarding concern does not need to be certain to be reported. The standard of proof is reasonable suspicion, rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A practitioner who only acts on certain knowledge is likely to take too long. Government guidance states that if you think something is not right, if a child is behaving differently, if an older person is afraid when a certain carer comes around, if a disabled adult is withdrawn or has unexplained injuries, and so on – these are all grounds to record and report a concern. The frontline worker’s job is to spot and report.

UK Legal Framework for Safeguarding

Safeguarding in the UK is not optional – it is statutory and supported by a complex series of laws. The Children Act 1989 set out that the welfare of the child should be the paramount consideration in any decision about a child. The Children Act 2004 extended this and places a duty on local authorities, NHS bodies, schools and other public bodies, such as the police, to co-operate to make arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This co-operation is the basis of multi-agency safeguarding, which is the foundation of child protection in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where each country has its own legislation based on these principles.

England’s Care Act 2014 is the key legislation for adults. It obligates local authorities to conduct safeguarding enquiries if an adult with care and support needs is at risk of abuse or neglect. The Act also sets out six principles of safeguarding: empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership and accountability. So safeguarding is person-centred, dignified and empowering. Scotland has the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007; Wales has the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014; and Northern Ireland has the Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Protection in Partnership policy.

In England, the statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024, is vital for the education sector. This outlines the duty of schools and colleges to keep children safe, and the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). All schools have a DSL, the child protection lead for that school. The guidance also covers safe recruitment, e-safety, peer-on-peer abuse and training. There can be regulatory action by Ofsted and even criminal prosecution of individuals and organisations if they do not comply with this guidance.

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (also known as whistleblowing law) covers whistleblowing by employees about child protection issues. This is the case if you believe your employer is not acting upon your concern, or if you believe you will be treated unfairly if you raise your concern. Regarding children, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has a Whistleblowing Advice Line for professionals who believe their concerns are not being taken seriously. This is important: it means it is never legally or ethically wrong to speak out about a risk to a vulnerable person – even if you might get into trouble at work.

Types of Safeguarding Issues in the UK

“Safeguarding issues” refers to a broad range of harmful situations and risks. Knowing the types helps professionals, parents, carers, and the community recognise specific behaviours and signs, as well as the impact of the different types of harm. Safeguarding issues are broadly categorised in the UK into several types, each with different signs and effects on the victim.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is the deliberate injury to the body. This could include hitting, shaking, burning, biting, scalding or throwing when it comes to children. In residential care, physical abuse of an adult may involve excessive physical restraint or being denied food, warmth or medication. Physical abuse may be shown by unexplained bruises, burns and fractures, especially if the bruises or burns are in unusual shapes or patterns on the body, or if the person’s explanation for the injury doesn’t fit the injury. Physically abused children may be fearful of some adults, easily frightened or wear heavy clothing, even in hot weather.

It’s essential to recognise that physical abuse is not always easily seen. Severe bruising and bruising inside the body, muscle strains, or the effects of repeated low-impact assaults may not be visible. Health professionals – such as GPs, paediatricians and dentists – are essential to recognising physical injuries that may not be readily visible to teachers or social workers. The UK’s multi-agency approach to safeguarding is designed precisely to ensure that professionals from a range of disciplines report their observations and share their concerns, building a picture of a child (or adult) that no single agency can provide on its own.

Emotional and Psychological Abuse

Emotional abuse can be hard to identify. But it can affect a person’s psychological health, well-being and development. This can include persistent criticism, humiliation, threats, rejection and emotional neglect, which can lead to long-term psychological problems without physical signs. In children, emotional abuse can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of emotional development or worthlessness. Children can experience emotional abuse through constant criticism, control, isolation and abandonment.

Emotional abuse is not an isolated form of abuse. It’s often used in conjunction with other forms of abuse and is used to gain and maintain power. In domestic violence cases, which comprise a large number of adult safeguarding referrals in the UK, psychological/emotional abuse may be used to precede and/or accompany physical abuse, and coercive control is now a criminal offence under the Serious Crime Act 2015. It’s not only isolated incidents we should look out for. A young person who is always quiet, a woman who lets her partner speak for her or an older person who is frightened of a family member may be suffering from emotional abuse and should be referred for safeguarding.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is any sexual contact that occurs without consent, or when the person is unable to consent because they’re too young, have a disability, are intoxicated from alcohol or drugs, or have impaired capacity. In the case of children, all sexual activity with an adult is abusive, regardless of whether the child is “consenting”.Child sexual exploitation (CSE) – when a child is groomed or forced to engage in sexual activity, often in return for “gifts”, approval or affection – is a significant issue in the UK because of the number of high-profile incidents that revealed failings in places such as Rotherham, Rochdale and Oxford. These cases had a profound impact on the UK’s approach to CSE and on the importance of believing children despite inconsistencies in their accounts.

In adult care, there can be misuse of power by staff, inappropriate sexual touching, voyeurism or use of pornographic media, to name a few. In relation to adults with cognitive impairments, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 is important: it provides tests to determine capacity to consent to sexual activity, and that decisions taken on behalf of a person without capacity must be in their best interests. Common signs of abuse for all ages include sexualised behaviours or language which is inappropriate for their age or capacity, social isolation, unexplained injuries to genitalia, and reluctance to be alone with certain individuals.

Neglect

Neglect is the failure to provide a person’s basic needs, resulting in a serious impairment of the person’s health, development, or well-being. Neglect is the most common form of child abuse in the UK. It can include physical neglect (failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, and medical treatment), emotional neglect (failure to provide love, stimulation, and guidance), educational neglect (persistent failure to ensure a child is in school), and medical neglect (failure to obtain appropriate medical treatment). A child who is being neglected may be dirty or malnourished, may not have sufficient clothing and school supplies, or may have untreated medical and dental problems.

Neglect of adults in care facilities is also serious. This can be failure to give a person medication, failure to help a person bathe, failure to ensure a person does not lie in dirty clothes or bedding, or failure to prevent bed sores in a bedridden person. Institutional neglect, where an entire care home or service neglects all of its residents, may not be obvious to outsiders, which is why the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is necessary to inspect these institutions and put them on improvement programs. Self-neglect by an adult with care and support needs can also come under the UK safeguarding framework, and must be responded to, even if the person refuses support.

Financial and Material Abuse

Financial abuse is the misuse or theft of a person’s money, property or assets. The financial abuse of vulnerable adults is becoming more recognised as a safeguarding concern in the UK, perhaps because of a shift in attitudes towards inheritance, the rising cost of care and the rise of online scamming. It is often committed by family members or carers, or trusted professionals. It may be identified by unexplained changes in financial circumstances, cash withdrawals from bank accounts, changes in wills or powers of attorney, loss of valuables or the sudden presence of a third party who takes control of the person’s finances and limits access to their money.

Financial abuse can take place over time and without physical injuries. It can be difficult for victims to report because of fear of losing the relationship, shame or embarrassment, or they may not recognise or understand the financial abuse. Local authority adult safeguarding teams and the police can investigate financial abuse. The Office of the Public Guardian investigates concerns about abuse of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA). If a professional has concerns that an older or disabled person appears to have unexplained financial problems or is being financially manipulated by another person, this should trigger a safeguarding alert.

Radicalisation

Radicalisation is the process through which a person may come to hold extremist political, social or religious views and beliefs that can lead to involvement in terrorism and political violence. In the UK, the statutory Channel programme – part of the PREVENT strategy – offers a multi-agency approach to refer people at risk of radicalisation for intervention to disengage from extremist views. The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on schools, universities, health services, prisons and a broad range of other public authorities to have “due regard” to the need to prevent a person from being drawn into terrorism. This is known as the PREVENT duty – part of the duty of care.

Some signs of a young person or adult being vulnerable to radicalisation include increasing extremist views, identification with extremist groups or goals, withdrawal from family and friends, changes in friends/online friends, statements about wanting to martyr themselves or revenge, or carrying extremist items. It’s important to note that radicalisation can occur with people of any background and political ideology: far-right, Islamist and other forms of extremism. Professionals working with young people and vulnerable adults should not be afraid to make a Channel referral if they are concerned, as this will not stigmatise the person or community.

Bullying and Online Harm

Bullying, including cyberbullying, is a safeguarding issue in the UK when it is severe enough or persistent enough to affect a child’s well-being, mental health or development. Schools must have an anti-bullying policy and record and respond to bullying. Peer-on-peer abuse – such as sexual harassment, physical and emotional bullying between children – is covered in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 and requires the same safeguarding response as adult-perpetrated abuse.

Online harms include exposure to inappropriate content, online grooming, sexual exploitation via social media, cyberbullying, sharing nude images without consent and radicalisation. The Online Safety Act 2023 creates new legal obligations for online platforms to protect children from online harms and represents a significant step forward in UK online safety. Child practitioners need to be aware of online safeguarding concerns. They must be confident to ask about online issues during safeguarding conversations.

Who is at Risk? Identifying Vulnerable People in the UK

Some people are more vulnerable to safeguarding concerns than others. In some situations, anyone can be a victim of abuse, neglect and exploitation, but some people are more vulnerable to these risks. It is important to recognise these groups not for stigmatisation, but to ensure the safeguarding system is appropriately balanced to provide the necessary protection. Identifying these vulnerable groups helps practitioners prioritise their work and ensure that those most at risk are protected.

Children are the most visible group protected under UK safeguarding laws – and with good reason. They are vulnerable to abuse because of their dependence, immaturity and lack of self-protection. ut some are more vulnerable: children who live in families where there is domestic violence, where one or both parents have substance abuse problems, or where one or both parents have severe mental illness; children who are in state care (children in care); children who have disabilities; children who are absent from school; children who are excluded from mainstream school; and children who are trafficked and at risk of honour-based abuse. Any child in these situations should raise professional suspicion and prompt a lower threshold for referral to children’s services.

For adults, the Care Act 2014 definition of an “adult at risk” is an adult (18 years or over) who has needs for care and support and who, by virtue of those needs, is unable to protect themselves from abuse or the risk of abuse. Older people with dementia or frailty, adults with physical and learning disabilities, people with severe mental illness, people who have significant problems with substance misuse and people who are homeless and those in insecure accommodation are examples. It’s important to note that people with care and support needs do not become safeguarding issues merely because they have these needs: the key additional factor is that they are at risk. But having care and support needs should always trigger safeguarding suspicions.

How to Recognise the Warning Signs of a Safeguarding Issue?

Recognition is key to safeguarding. If we can’t identify the signs of harm, then no matter how well the reporting and response systems are, they will not work. In reality, indicators are not always clear-cut. any of the most concerning safeguarding scenarios are insidious and characterised by subtle shifts in behaviour, physical appearance and/or other circumstances that, on their own, may not mean much, but together form a concerning pattern. The ability to observe – and be alert to your intuition – is a skill all those working with vulnerable people must develop and nurture.

Behavioural Indicators

Behavioural indicators are usually the first clues that an alert professional or community member notices. These include changes in mood or behaviour, such as a child who was previously outgoing becoming withdrawn, anxious and/or aggressive or an adult who was outgoing and talkative becoming withdrawn, anxious. Sexual knowledge or behaviour that is not age-appropriate in a child can indicate sexual abuse. Linginess or, conversely, a lack of concern about relationships with trusted adults can also be a sign of emotional abuse. Self-harm, eating disorders and substance abuse during adolescence can also be a response to abuse in some cases where it has not been verbally disclosed. These may be picked up by professionals who know the child or adult well, as they know what is normal for that person.

Physical Indicators

Physical indicators include unexplained bruises, burns, cuts or fractures, particularly to parts of the body that are less likely to be accidentally injured, in a pattern or cluster, or at varying stages of healing (which suggests they have been inflicted over a period of time). Poor nutrition, hygiene or inappropriate clothing for the weather (particularly in children) may indicate neglect. In older people, unexplained weight loss, pressure sores or dirty clothes when a carer is present are indicators. We need to avoid instantly attributing these signs to a safeguarding issue without ignoring them.

Environmental and Contextual Indicators

Environmental and contextual indicators should be considered when assessing safeguarding concerns. These might include poor hygiene, evidence of domestic violence in the home (broken windows or doors, or a primary carer who is frightened or has injuries), unknown adults in a child’s home, or a child or young person being groomed by older, unknown adults. Technology indicators – unexplained exposure to adult and inappropriate content, covert use of technology, or unknown social media connections – are also becoming more important in a world where much grooming, exploitation and bullying takes place online. When adults working with children or young people feel “something isn’t right”, even if they can’t put their finger on what it is, this is a good reason to start a discussion with their safeguarding lead.

How to Report a Safeguarding Issue in the UK?

It’s as important to know how to report as what to report. Many professionals and community members are reluctant to act because they are unsure how to report, fear they will make a mistake, or worry it will harm the young person. The UK system takes these fears into account: the standard for reporting is low (reasonable suspicion, not proof), and there is legal protection for those who make a good faith report. Understanding the process overcomes one of the main blocks to action.

Step 1 – Observe and Record

When a safeguarding concern arises, the first step is to record what you have seen, heard or been told, as soon as possible. Y u should record the information in a factual, non-interpretative and straightforward manner. Y u should include the date, time and location of the incident or disclosure; the names of the child or adult and others involved; and, crucially, the words spoken by the child or adult if there has been a disclosure. If a child reports something has happened to them, record verbatim what they have said. This documentary record may be used as part of an investigation.

Step 2 – Report Internally

In any children’s or vulnerable adult organisation, there should be a safeguarding leader. In schools, this is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). In health and social care, it could be a named safeguarding manager. In private organisations, it could be a trustee or manager. The first step you should take within the organisation is to report your concerns to this person, unless the concern is about them, in which case you should report it to a more senior person or the local authority. Don’t be deterred by this, even if it means ruffling some feathers and/or causing embarrassment.

Once the level of risk has been assessed, the safeguarding lead or you may need to refer to statutory agencies. For children, this is the local authority’s children’s services, often referred to as a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). For adults, it is the local authority’s adult safeguarding team. If an adult or a child is in imminent danger, or the abuse is a crime, contact the police. It is not necessary to wait for procedures to be followed if you are concerned about someone. The safety of the at-risk person is paramount.

Step 4 – Enquiry and Assessment

Once a referral is made, the statutory authority will determine if a safeguarding enquiry is required. Children’s Services will make an initial assessment under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to determine whether a child is “in need”. If it is concluded that there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, a Section 47 enquiry will be made. For an adult, Section 42 of the Care Act 2014 will initiate an enquiry. These may include social workers, police, health and other agencies. It is important that wherever possible, the adult at risk is involved and informed throughout.

Step 5 – Escalate If Necessary

If you feel your concern is being ignored or your organisation or the local authority is not responding appropriately, you have a right – and a responsibility – to escalate. For concerns about child protection, professionals can contact the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line if they feel their concerns are not being addressed. Concerns about early years providers and schools can also be made to Ofsted. Whereas in adult safeguarding, the Care Quality Commission is the regulator if the concern is about a registered care provider. Y u are protected to speak out through whistleblowing laws, so it is always important to do the right thing.

Role of Organisations and Professionals in Safeguarding

Safeguarding in the UK is a shared responsibility across agencies. Education, health and social care, police, voluntary and faith-based organisations, all have different but overlapping roles in identifying, reporting and responding to safeguarding issues. The multi-agency model aims to prevent any one view from being taken as the final word, and to piece together the whole of a child’s (or adult’s) life from the observations and insights of several professionals. The model has evolved greatly since a series of serious case reviews into child deaths and safeguarding adults.

In schools, the DSL has responsibility for safeguarding, but all staff, including administrative and support staff, must report concerns. Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 states that all staff are trained in safeguarding and that they report any concerns to the DSL straight away. Schools are also key to the PREVENT strategy, Early Help and responding to children who may be vulnerable to peer-on-peer abuse and online harassment. The governors are responsible for safeguarding in the school; they ensure the school has a current safeguarding policy, that the DSL is knowledgeable about safeguarding issues, and that the school is open and alert to safeguarding concerns.

Health care professionals are in a special position because they are often the first people to see children and adults in situations where safeguarding issues may arise – Accident and Emergency, General Practise, Dental, Community Nursing, and Maternal Services. Every NHS trust has a safeguarding professional, and all clinical staff are required to undertake safeguarding training at an appropriate level. The intercollegiate document on child safeguarding competencies guides the knowledge and skills required by all staff levels, from reception to consultant. Dentists, opticians and allied health professionals – who may treat patients who do not come into contact with other services – are also increasingly being recognised as part of the safeguarding team.

Police will become involved in safeguarding concerns wherever abuse is, or may be, a criminal offence, or where there is a risk to life. Police officers in Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASHs) work with social workers and health professionals to ensure that criminal justice and welfare issues are considered. The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) oversees allegations made against adults working with children and ensures they are investigated and that disciplinary, regulatory, or criminal action is taken, if necessary. Organisations should report allegations to the LADO within 24 hours.

Barriers to Reporting and How to Overcome Them

Despite the strong statutory obligations and large-scale training initiatives, safeguarding concerns are being lost in the UK. To improve organisational and system effectiveness, it is important to understand why. Safeguarding concerns are simply not reported due to a lack of knowledge; they are reported because of complex emotional, relational, and cultural factors that require attention. It involves as much work as any other safeguarding activity.

Being wrong is a common reason why a concern is not reported. Far from disturbing a family, harming the relationship with their client or being criticised by colleagues if they are proved wrong are often cited as reasons not to report a concern. But the test for reporting is reasonable suspicion. The statutory advice is that it is better to report a concern that proves to be unfounded than to fail to report one that proves to be real. The safeguarding system is designed to investigate concerns to determine their validity – it is not the person making the concern’s role to do so.

Confidentiality is also a barrier. IN some cases, professionals worry that sharing information about a client or patient without their consent is inappropriate – especially when the person at risk has requested that the information be kept confidential. The UK data protection law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), allows sharing information without consent when there is a need to protect a person from serious harm. The need to protect vulnerable people trumps confidentiality. But there needs to be organisational guidance and training on when information can be shared, to ensure staff make these judgements without fear of legal or employment reprisals.

Cultural barriers can also significantly limit reporting, both within organisations and across communities. In some cultures, speaking up about another’s behaviour is regarded as unhelpful. IN other communities, there is strong resistance to statutory intervention in family life. These cultural factors need to be negotiated carefully but firmly: the safety of vulnerable people is not trumped by cultural or organisational factors, and organisations with a blame culture or that discourage staff from speaking up are unsafe. Leadership is key. When organisational leaders listen to and respond to concerns without punishment and promote speaking up for the organisation’s best interests, they foster a different culture.

Safeguarding Policies and Training

All organisations in the UK which work with children or adults at risk have a legal and ethical duty to have clear safeguarding arrangements in place. It is not a choice, and the stakes are high – from the regulatory, reputational, to the criminal prosecution of individuals and corporate manslaughter of organisations. The key elements of an organisational safeguarding structure are well documented and familiar in statutory guidance.

An organisational safeguarding policy is fundamental. I should outline the organisation’s safeguarding principles, name the lead safeguarding officer and their deputy, explain reporting and response procedures, clarify information-sharing arrangements, and outline specific risks associated with the organisation’s work. Policies must be reviewed once a year, approved by the board or governing body, and disseminated to all staff and volunteers – not just written and then left in the filing cabinet. For charities, the Charity Commission’s guidance states that the trustees must take responsibility for the safeguarding policy.

Another fundamental safeguarding policy is safer recruitment. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is the most obvious part of the safeguarding process, but there are many other components. Tougher, safer recruitment also involves careful consideration of application forms, interviews that include questions about a candidate’s approach to working with children and vulnerable adults, and checks on qualifications and employment history, including the taking up of references. The Safer Recruitment Consortium details steps for an organisation to enhance its recruitment. A DBS check cannot replace a rigorous recruitment process that is alert to any reasons why an applicant may not be suitable to work with children or adults.

Staff and volunteers – not just designated leads – must receive ongoing and quality safeguarding training. Training should be tailored to the nature and extent of contact with vulnerable people, refreshed regularly (typically every 2-3 years for awareness training; more often for safeguarding leads) and should not be seen as a “box-ticking” exercise. Training should not be seen as a compliance exercise, but rather as an opportunity to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills to respond when confronted with a safeguarding issue. Training that uses scenarios is particularly effective, as it helps people navigate complex moral issues in real-life contexts rather than teaching abstract ideas that can be difficult to put into practice under stress.

What Happens After a Safeguarding Referral is Made?

Referrals are not the “last step” in responding to a concern, but the first step in a complex process that may involve several agencies, powers and professional judgements over time. Understanding what happens next can help the referrer feel less isolated and play a positive role. I also offer some comfort to the at-risk individual, letting them know they are being listened to and that help is on the way.

In relation to children, the statutory process begins with an initial assessment by children’s services that should occur within 10 working days of a referral. T will decide whether or not the child needs more help under Section 17 as a “child in need,” or if the situation is serious enough for a Section 47 enquiry – a more in-depth investigation to determine whether a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering significant harm. It is a more complex enquiry that includes the police and may lead to an agency strategy discussion or a child protection conference. A d finally, the registration of the child on the child protection register for one or more types of abuse. C se conferences involve multiple professionals, and if appropriate, a child and their parents.

The process for responding to a safeguarding referral for an adult under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014 is similar. The local authority will decide whether the referral triggers an enquiry, that the adult needs care and support, is at risk of abuse or neglect, and cannot protect themselves because of their care and support needs. If this threshold is reached, an enquiry will be carried out, which may include the adult (whose views must be taken into account – this is the “making safeguarding personal” agenda), their family, relevant professionals and, in some cases, the police. The enquiry will lead to the creation of a protection plan, referral to the Safeguarding Adults Board for review, or a formal multi-agency risk assessment conference.

The Local Government Association’s “Making Safeguarding Personal” (MSP) agenda brings a new approach to adult safeguarding in England. M P expects the adult at risk to be an active part of the process rather than having safeguarding measures imposed on them. Their wishes, hopes, and vision will be central to the plan. This approach means a person’s autonomy is no longer eroded while ensuring their safety, recognising that a safeguarding plan they don’t agree with is unlikely to be successful in the long run.

Safeguarding in Specific UK Settings

Safeguarding has different functions in different settings. Understanding the specific safeguarding issues and vulnerabilities in different settings informs practice and helps to ensure that universal principles are applied in a nuanced manner.

Schools and Educational Settings 

Schools are the most important settings for safeguarding because of the time children spend there. The DSL system, as outlined in the 2024 Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, offers a stewardship approach. Schools also need to consider Part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education, which all staff are required to read. The latest guidance also makes serious reference to online safety, peer-on-peer abuse and the early recognition of children’s needs for help. Multi-academy trusts have further safeguarding obligations to ensure that standards are maintained across multiple academies.

Health and Social Care Settings

Safeguarding is a complex and multifaceted issue that impacts all health and social care providers, including NHS trusts, care homes, supported living and domiciliary care. Safeguarding is one of the essential standards of care which all CQC providers must meet. CC inspectors assess providers’ arrangements for identifying, reporting and responding to safeguarding issues, and poor safeguarding practice is often subject to enforcement action. The rollout of Single Assessment Framework inspections in 2023 means the CQC is increasingly focusing on provider culture and leadership, and that safeguarding quality depends on leaders’ attitudes and behaviours.

Voluntary and Faith Sector Organisations

Charities, community organisations and faith-based organisations play a vital role in the lives of children and vulnerable adults in the UK, and voluntary and faith sector organisations have the same safeguarding responsibilities as statutory services. The Charity Commission’s safeguarding guidance makes clear that all charities, large and small, and whatever their focus, need to be alert. Organisations have been particularly in the spotlight in recent years, given the instances of abuse in multiple faiths. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) 2022 report made several recommendations for the faith sector, including mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse. The UK Government is considering this recommendation.

FAQs

Conclusion

Safeguarding is not a process; it is a society’s concern for its most vulnerable members. Knowing what is a safeguarding issue with all its complications and in all the places where it may occur is what makes it possible.

The UK has one of the most advanced frameworks for safeguarding. It is founded on robust law and comprehensive statutory guidance, inter-agency co-operation, and, increasingly, a “person-centred” approach to safeguarding, with the person at risk’s needs, wishes and dignity at the centre of decisions and actions. But frameworks are only as good as their users. Each major safeguarding failure in the UK has been a failure not of the law but of people and organisations to understand, report and respond to concerns in a timely and brave fashion. Being able to spot, respond, and speak out without fear are key features of safeguarding.

If this article has helped to inform you, and you work with vulnerable adults or children, you must ensure you are as informed as possible, that your organisation has appropriate policies, and that you know how to report. Seek out quality safeguarding training, talk to your DSL or safeguarding lead, d and know where to report any concerns. Why could you be putting the safety of vulnerable children and adults at risk?