The legislation for safeguarding adults provides a legal framework for care professionals to protect adults at risk. But first, you must know the relevant source to find it. 

So, where can legislation for safeguarding adults be found? You can access official safeguarding legislation on Legislation.gov.uk. Also, you can find government guidance on GOV.UK, and local safeguarding procedures through your local Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB). However, the relevant legislation and guidance vary across the UK nations.

This guide explains how to find current adult safeguarding legislation, check updates and identify the right guidance for your role. Let’s explore.

Where Can Legislation for Safeguarding Adults Be Found?

You can find adult safeguarding legislation through official government websites, statutory guidance and local safeguarding authorities.

As you will be working with adults at risk, finding legitimate information is essential. That’s why the source of the information must be a form of authority.

Here are the main sources to use:

UK Government’s Legislation Website

“Legislation.gov.uk” is the official UK legislation website. This is the official, free online database for the statute law of the United Kingdom. And it is managed by The National Archives on behalf of the UK Government 

As this database is completely open to the public, you can search for any legislation regarding safeguarding adults. You can search for specific Acts and Laws.

For example, professionals working in England can look up the Care Act 2014 to understand the legal framework for adult safeguarding.

UK Government’s Official Website

“GOV.UK” is the UK Government’s official website. It lets you access government publications and statutory guidance. Also, you can get information about policies and legal responsibilities.

As a care professional, you can use this website to find guidance about safeguarding adults. Such as, how safeguarding legislation applies in practice. You just have to search for adult safeguarding guidance or the Care and Support Statutory Guidance.

For adult safeguarding in England, look for the Care and Support Statutory Guidance.

National government sources

Each of the four nations in the UK has its own legislation and guidance relating to adult safeguarding. So it becomes easier for you to use the official government sources relevant to the nation.

• England: Use GOV.UK for adult safeguarding guidance and related publications.
• Wales: Visit “GOV.WALES” for social care legislation and safeguarding guidance.
• Scotland: Visit “mygov.scot” and the Scottish Government for relevant guidance and resources.
• Northern Ireland: Visit “nidirect” and the “Department of Health” for adult safeguarding information and policies.

Always confirm that the legislation or guidance applies to your UK nation before relying on it.

Local Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs)

In England, Local Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs) help coordinate adult safeguarding arrangements in local areas. They also provide multi-agency guidance. Their websites provide access to local policies, referral procedures and multi-agency safeguarding guidance.

So, if you work in a care home, healthcare setting or community service, these resources can help you. These will make your understanding of the reporting of concerns and following local safeguarding procedures easier.

For example, you can search online for your local authority’s name alongside Safeguarding Adults Board to find the relevant website, referral guidance and local safeguarding procedures.

How to Find Legislation for Specific Safeguarding Issues?

Once you know which website to use, the next step is finding the legislation relevant to your safeguarding concern. The process is straightforward. First, identify the issue, then search for the relevant law, and finally check that it applies to your situation.

Find the Law by Its Name or Subject

First, you need to identify the safeguarding issue you are looking for. Here are two cases. One, when you know exactly what you are looking for. Second, when you only know the terms but don’t know exactly what to look for.

If you know the name of the Act, enter it into the website’s search bar. Otherwise, use a relevant term, such as adult safeguarding, mental capacity or abuse and neglect.

For example: If you need to understand the legal framework for adult safeguarding in England, search for Care Act 2014. Open the Act and use the contents or search function to locate the relevant provisions. Such as, you can go to Section 42 on the local authority’s safeguarding enquiry duty.

Read our detailed guide on which piece of legislation defines safeguarding and how different laws work together

Check Which UK Nation the Legislation Applies To

After finding a law, check its territorial application before relying on it. Because across the four nations in the UK, safeguarding legislation differs. So a law relevant in one nation may not apply in the same way elsewhere.

For example: If you work in Scotland and need information about adult protection, search for the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.

Check Whether the Document Is Current

Some legislation gets updated frequently, and some don’t need regular updates. That’s why you must always check the publication or review date, especially when you are reading statutory guidance or local procedures.

Another essential thing to check in staff training is to check whether your local Safeguarding Adults Board has published an updated version.

PS: For care professionals, the relevant legislation depends on their role, workplace and the safeguarding issue they encounter. 

For example, staff working in England should understand the Care Act 2014. On the other hand, professionals who support people with mental capacity, they also need to consult the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Legislation vs Statutory Guidance vs Local Procedures?

The terms legislation, statutory guidance and local procedures each serve a different purpose even though they sound the same. That’s why understanding the difference between these three is essential.

Let’s take a look at how these terms are different from each other:

Document type	What it means	Where to find it	Example
Legislation	Laws passed by Parliament or another authorised legislature that establish legal duties, powers and responsibilities.	UK Government’s Legislation Website	Care Act 2014
Statutory guidance	Guidance issued under a legal framework that explains how relevant duties should be carried out. Its legal effect depends on the legislation and the wording of the guidance.	UK Government’s Official Website and relevant national government websites	Care and Support Statutory Guidance in England
Local procedures	Practical instructions explaining how organisations and professionals should follow safeguarding arrangements in a particular area.	Your local Safeguarding Adults Board or relevant safeguarding authority	Local safeguarding referral and reporting procedures

Key Adult Safeguarding Laws and Official Sources

Several laws and frameworks support adult safeguarding across the UK. But the legislation you need depends on the issue and the nation. Use the table below to identify relevant laws and access their official texts.

Legislation or framework	Relevance to Adult Safeguarding	Official Source
Care Act 2014	Establishes the main statutory framework for adult safeguarding in England, including local authorities’ safeguarding duties.	UK Government’s Legislation Website
Mental Capacity Act 2005	Provides a legal framework for decisions involving people who may lack the mental capacity to make particular decisions.	UK Government’s Legislation Website
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006	Provides a framework for safeguarding certain groups, including arrangements for barring people from regulated activity.	UK Government’s Legislation Website
Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014	Sets out social services duties in Wales, including provisions relating to adults at risk.	UK Government’s Legislation Website
Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007	Establishes legal measures for protecting adults at risk of harm in Scotland.	UK Government’s Legislation Website

For a more detailed explanation of key safeguarding laws, read our guide to What Are the 3 Legislations Linked to Safeguarding?

How to Keep Up With Changes of Safeguarding Legislation?

As discussed earlier, the safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and local procedures may change over time. As a care professional, you must be aware and stay informed so that you can follow the correct procedures.

By following these six steps, you can keep your knowledge up to date and reduce the risk of overlooking important changes:

Step 1: Check Official Government Websites Regularly

When the government updates any legislation, they publish it on the official website. So the first step is to always keep checking the UK government’s legislation websites. Here you will find the updates and information related to those updates.

Along with those updates, you can also find guidance. These will tell you what you should be doing to align with the new rules and regulations.

You can read our guide on the current safeguarding legislation in the UK that protects children and vulnerable adults.

Step 2: Review Your Local Safeguarding Adults Board Guidance

Your local Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) is another useful source of information. Make sure to check its website regularly for changes to safeguarding policies, referral pathways and reporting procedures.

These resources will help you understand how to respond to safeguarding concerns in your area and follow the latest local procedures.

Step 3: Subscribe to Relevant Updates and Newsletters

Another way to stay informed is to subscribe to updates from government departments, safeguarding organisations and relevant professional bodies. These organisations share new guidance, policy changes and other important announcements through email newsletters.

This way, you can receive relevant information directly in your inbox. So you don’t have to check every website manually.

Step 4: Attend Safeguarding Training and Refresher Courses

Training also helps you understand how changes affect your daily work. Attend safeguarding training and refresher courses that are relevant to your role and responsibilities.

These courses can help you recognise signs of abuse or neglect, understand your safeguarding duties and respond to concerns in line with current guidance.

Step 5: Review Workplace Policies and Procedures

Along with keeping up with legislation, make sure your workplace policies and procedures are also up to date. Ask your manager or safeguarding lead whether any changes are needed following updates to legislation or official guidance.

This will help you and your colleagues follow the correct reporting procedures and apply safeguarding requirements consistently in your daily work.

Step 6: Keep Records of Updates and Training

Always keep a record of the updates and training. Keep a handwritten or digital note for yourself. Use categories, dates and specific acts so that you can search easily. 

You can also record changes made to workplace policies and procedures. This makes it easier to check whether your knowledge and working practices remain up to date.

FAQ

Conclusion

When the source of the safeguarding adult legislation is from the government, you can be sure that the information is correct. Based on the government’s updates, every relevant authority organises its guidance accordingly.

Where can legislation for safeguarding adults be found? You can find it on the UK government’s legislation website. You can access the guidance on the UK government’s official website. For local safeguarding procedures, you can go to your local Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB).

So, as a care professional, make sure you regularly check for updates to safeguarding legislation and guidance. This will help you understand your legal responsibilities and follow the correct procedures to protect adults at risk of abuse or neglect.