Adult Safeguarding Procedure and Guidance

Overview

Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations 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:

• stop abuse or neglect wherever possible;
• prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect to adults with care and support needs;
• 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.

In Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, as with all local authorities, we have procedures and guidance to support staff in their role. The following documents provide details about how to raise a concern if you’re worried someone is at risk of, or experiencing abuse.

We have recently reviewed these documents, making changes to:

• Reflect new general data protection regulations and other legislative changes
• Strengthen ‘Making Safeguarding Personal’
• Guidance in relation to non recent abuse
• Pressure ulcer protocols

In addition to the changes above, we have developed new guidance in relation to:

• Section on early intervention and prevention
• Separate guidance including risk assessment tools in respect of self-neglect
  
  Please see the attached procedure and guidance draft documents at the bottom of the page and then click the link below to give us your views