Vulnerable Adults & Adult Safeguarding

Protecting Adults at Risk, Respecting Rights and Promoting Safety Adult safeguarding means protecting an adult's right to live safely, free from abuse, neglect, exploitation and avoidable harm. This page provides general information about vulnerable adults, adult safeguarding, elder abuse, self-neglect, hoarding, financial exploitation, mental capacity, safeguarding referrals and advocacy support. This information is neutral, rights-based and for general guidance only. It does not replace legal, medical, safeguarding or professional advice.

Adult Safeguarding

What is Adult Safeguarding?

Adult safeguarding applies where an adult:

• Has care and support needs.
• Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect.
• Is unable to protect themselves because of those needs.

Safeguarding should aim to:

• Prevent harm.
• Protect people from abuse and neglect.
• Support choice, control and dignity.
• Promote wellbeing.
• Respect human rights.
• Act lawfully and proportionately.

Official Guidance

Care Act statutory guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance

Care Act 2014, Section 42 safeguarding enquiries:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/section/42

NHS adult safeguarding:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/safeguarding/

NHS abuse and neglect of adults at risk:
https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/help-from-social-services-and-charities/abuse-and-neglect-adults-at-risk/

Who May Be at Risk?

An adult may be more vulnerable to abuse or neglect because of:

• Age-related frailty.
• Disability.
• Learning disability.
• Autism.
• Dementia.
• Mental health needs.
• Physical illness.
• Sensory impairment.
• Substance misuse.
• Care dependency.
• Homelessness.
• Social isolation.
• Domestic abuse.
• Exploitation.
• Coercion or control.

Safeguarding should never remove a person's rights unnecessarily. Support should be person-centred and involve the adult wherever possible.

Types of Adult Abuse

Adult abuse may include:

• Physical abuse.
• Domestic abuse.
• Sexual abuse.
• Psychological or emotional abuse.
• Financial or material abuse.
• Modern slavery.
• Discriminatory abuse.
• Organisational or institutional abuse.
• Neglect and acts of omission.
• Self-neglect.
• Online abuse.
• Coercive control.

Abuse may happen at home, in care settings, hospitals, supported accommodation, workplaces, online, or in the community.

Elder Abuse

Understanding Elder Abuse

Elder abuse means harm, abuse or neglect affecting an older person.

It may involve:

• Physical harm.
• Emotional abuse.
• Financial abuse.
• Neglect.
• Coercive control.
• Isolation.
• Misuse of medication.
• Poor care.
• Pressure around wills, property or money.

Elder abuse may be carried out by:

• Family members.
• Partners.
• Friends.
• Neighbours.
• Carers.
• Professionals.
• Scammers.
• Criminal groups.

Support

Hourglass:
https://wearehourglass.org

Helpline:
0808 808 8141

Age UK:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk

Self-Neglect

What is Self-Neglect?

Self-neglect can happen when an adult is not able, or is not willing, to care for their own basic needs.

This may include:

• Poor personal hygiene.
• Not eating or drinking properly.
• Not taking medication.
• Unsafe living conditions.
• Refusing essential care.
• Severe isolation.
• Not seeking medical help.
• Living with serious hazards.

Self-neglect can be linked to mental health needs, trauma, addiction, dementia, disability, bereavement or loss of support.

Safeguarding responses should be respectful, patient and person-centred.

Guidance

SCIE self-neglect information:
https://www.scie.org.uk/self-neglect/at-a-glance/

Hoarding & Safeguarding

Hoarding Concerns

Hoarding may become a safeguarding concern where it creates risks such as:

• Fire hazards.
• Falls.
• Unsafe access.
• Blocked exits.
• Poor sanitation.
• Pest infestation.
• Risk to neighbours.
• Risk to carers or emergency services.

Hoarding should be approached sensitively. It may be linked to trauma, anxiety, grief, mental health needs or neurodiversity.

Support may involve:

• Adult social care.
• Mental health services.
• Housing providers.
• Fire and rescue services.
• Environmental health.
• Advocacy.
• Family support where appropriate.

Financial Exploitation

What is Financial Abuse?

Financial exploitation means someone misuses, controls or takes another person's money, property or assets.

Examples include:

• Taking money without consent.
• Misusing bank cards.
• Pressuring someone to change a will.
• Fraud or scams.
• Misusing Power of Attorney.
• Controlling benefits or pension income.
• Charging unfairly for care.
• Coercing someone into debt.
• Theft by relatives, carers or others.

Reporting Financial Abuse or Fraud

Action Fraud:
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

Police non-emergency:
101

Emergency risk:
999

Office of the Public Guardian:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-public-guardian

Report concerns about an attorney or deputy:
https://www.gov.uk/report-concern-about-attorney-deputy

MoneyHelper:
https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk

Vulnerable Adult Protection

Protecting Adults While Respecting Rights

Safeguarding should balance protection with personal freedom, dignity and choice.

Good safeguarding should:

• Listen to the adult.
• Take concerns seriously.
• Consider risk.
• Avoid discrimination.
• Use the least restrictive option.
• Involve carers or family only where appropriate and safe.
• Share information lawfully.
• Record decisions clearly.
• Act in the person's best interests where they lack capacity.

Professionals should avoid making assumptions based on age, disability, mental health, lifestyle or living conditions.

Missing Vulnerable Adults

When a Vulnerable Adult Goes Missing

A vulnerable adult may be at increased risk if they go missing due to:

• Dementia.
• Mental health crisis.
• Learning disability.
• Exploitation.
• Domestic abuse.
• Homelessness.
• Medication needs.
• Physical illness.
• Risk of self-harm.
• Coercion or criminal exploitation.

You do not have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing.

What to Do

Call 999 if there is immediate risk.

Call 101 if the risk is not immediate but police support is needed.

Missing People

https://www.missingpeople.org.uk

Helpline:
116 000

Mental Capacity & Protection

Mental Capacity

Mental capacity means the ability to make a specific decision at the time it needs to be made.

A person should be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity.

A person should not be treated as unable to make a decision simply because they make a decision others consider unwise.

Where someone lacks capacity, decisions must be made in their best interests and use the least restrictive option.

Mental Capacity Act 2005

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents

Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice

Deprivation of Liberty and Restrictions

Some adults may need care arrangements that restrict their freedom for safety reasons. These decisions must follow the law, be necessary, proportionate and protect the person's rights.

Where there are concerns about restrictions, restraint, locked settings, medication, care arrangements or someone's ability to consent, specialist advice should be sought from:

• Adult social care.
• Healthcare professionals.
• A safeguarding team.
• An advocate.
• A solicitor.
• The Court of Protection where appropriate.

Court of Protection

https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/court-of-protection

Safeguarding Referrals

When to Make a Safeguarding Referral

A safeguarding referral may be needed where an adult:

• Has care and support needs.
• Is experiencing abuse or neglect.
• Is at risk of abuse or neglect.
• Cannot protect themselves because of those needs.

Concerns can be raised by:

• The adult themselves.
• Family members.
• Friends.
• Neighbours.
• Carers.
• Professionals.
• Members of the public.

How to Report a Safeguarding Concern

Contact the local council adult safeguarding team.

Find your local council:
https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

If a crime has happened, contact police.

Emergency:
999

Non-emergency:
101

What Happens After a Safeguarding Referral?

After a concern is raised, the local authority may:

• Gather information.
• Assess immediate risk.
• Speak with the adult where possible.
• Consider the adult's wishes.
• Contact relevant agencies.
• Decide whether a safeguarding enquiry is needed.
• Create a protection or support plan where required.

Possible outcomes may include:

• No further safeguarding action.
• Advice and signposting.
• Care needs assessment.
• Mental capacity assessment.
• Police referral.
• Advocacy support.
• Multi-agency safeguarding meeting.
• Protection planning.
• Review of care arrangements.

Safeguarding should be proportionate and should not automatically remove a person's independence.

Advocacy Support

What is Advocacy?

An advocate helps a person understand information, express their views, understand their rights and take part in decisions.

Advocacy may be important where someone:

• Has difficulty communicating.
• Has no suitable person to support them.
• Has mental capacity concerns.
• Is involved in safeguarding decisions.
• Needs support with care planning.
• Is at risk of not being heard.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate

An Independent Mental Capacity Advocate, known as an IMCA, may support people who lack capacity for certain serious decisions and have no appropriate person to represent them.

Advocacy Information

SCIE IMCA information:
https://www.scie.org.uk/mca/imca/do/

VoiceAbility:
https://www.voiceability.org

POhWER Advocacy:
https://www.pohwer.net

Carers, Family Members and Safeguarding

Family members and unpaid carers can play an important role in keeping adults safe.

However, safeguarding must also recognise that abuse or neglect can sometimes involve relatives, partners, carers or trusted people.

Where there are concerns, professionals should consider:

• The adult's wishes.
• Risk of harm.
• Carer stress.
• Coercion or control.
• Conflicts of interest.
• Whether the adult can speak freely.
• Whether information sharing is safe.

Carers Support

Carers UK:
https://www.carersuk.org

Carers Trust:
https://carers.org

Domestic Abuse and Vulnerable Adults

Domestic abuse can affect adults of any age and may involve partners, ex-partners or family members.

It can include:

• Physical abuse.
• Emotional abuse.
• Sexual abuse.
• Financial abuse.
• Coercive control.
• Threats.
• Isolation.
• Stalking.
• Post-separation abuse.

Domestic Abuse Support

National Domestic Abuse Helpline:
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Telephone:
0808 2000 247

Men's Advice Line:
https://mensadviceline.org.uk

Telephone:
0808 801 0327

Galop LGBT+ support:
https://galop.org.uk

Mental Health and Crisis Support

Safeguarding concerns may overlap with mental health crisis, trauma, isolation, self-harm risk or suicidal thoughts.

NHS Mental Health

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health

Samaritans

https://www.samaritans.org

Telephone:
116 123

Mind

https://www.mind.org.uk

Human Rights, Equality and Legal Protections

Adults at risk have the same rights as everyone else.

Relevant protections may include:

• Right to life.
• Freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment.
• Right to liberty and security.
• Respect for private and family life.
• Freedom from discrimination.
• Right to fair treatment.
• Right to dignity and autonomy.
• Right to make decisions where they have capacity.
• Right to protection from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Relevant legislation includes:

• Care Act 2014.
• Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Human Rights Act 1998.
• Equality Act 2010.
• Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
• Data Protection Act 2018.
• UK GDPR.
• Modern Slavery Act 2015.
• Fraud Act 2006.
• Theft Act 1968.

Public bodies should act lawfully, fairly, proportionately and in line with safeguarding duties.

Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Information should normally be handled confidentially.

However, information may be shared where it is lawful, necessary and proportionate, especially where:

• Someone is at risk of serious harm.
• A crime may have been committed.
• A person lacks capacity and needs protection.
• There is a safeguarding duty.
• Others may be at risk.

Organisations should follow data protection law and safeguarding guidance.

Useful Support Links

Emergency and Police

Emergency:
999

Police non-emergency:
101

Police UK:
https://www.police.uk

Adult Safeguarding

Find your local council:
https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

NHS adult abuse and neglect:
https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/help-from-social-services-and-charities/abuse-and-neglect-adults-at-risk/

Care Act guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance

Older People

Hourglass:
https://wearehourglass.org

Age UK:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk

Mental Capacity and Legal Protection

Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice

Court of Protection:
https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/court-of-protection

Office of the Public Guardian:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-public-guardian

Missing People

Missing People:
https://www.missingpeople.org.uk

Helpline:
116 000

Fraud and Financial Exploitation

Action Fraud:
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

MoneyHelper:
https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk

Advocacy

VoiceAbility:
https://www.voiceability.org

POhWER:
https://www.pohwer.net

Important Notice

This website provides general information only.

It does not provide legal advice, safeguarding investigations, medical care, emergency response or crisis intervention.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

If you are concerned about abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult, contact the local council adult safeguarding team, police, NHS services or a qualified professional.

Information should always be checked with official government, statutory and professional sources because law, policy and procedures may change.