1. Safeguarding Adults The Care Act 2014
Adult Safeguarding Unit, WSCC
Sept 2015

2. Safeguarding Adults Empowerment Prevention Proportionality Protection
Partnership
Accountability

3. Safeguarding Adults Enquiry (s42)
An adult in the LA’s area who meets these three criteria:
(a) has needs for care and support (whether or not the LA is meeting those needs), and
(b) is experiencing or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
(c) As a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.
The Act introduces three criteria for triggering a requirement on Social Services to act.

4. What’s changed? Terminology:
Safeguarding Alert now Safeguarding Concerns
IM/IO – Enquiry Manager/Enquiry Officer
Quality issues Vs Adult Safeguarding
No levels of Investigation – proportionate response
No Outcomes; unsubstantiated, inconclusive, substantiated
Instead outcomes are person-centred (Making Safeguarding Personal)
Investigation now Safeguarding Enquiry (s42)
PAR now ‘Person thought to be the cause of the risk’ (COR)

5. Categories of abuse Re-framed The usual suspects Additionally...
Organisational abuse (formerly institutional abuse)
Physical abuse
Self-neglect
Sexual abuse
Domestic abuse
Psychological abuse
Modern slavery
Financial or material abuse
Neglect and acts of omission
Discriminatory abuse
Three new categories of abuse have been added and Organisational abuse has now replaced institutional abuse, as it can also occur in a persons own home.
Modern slavery encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude.

6. Raising Concerns
Should you witness abuse/neglect or it is disclosed to you, you must;
Take all disclosures seriously.
Seek urgent support or advice if required (ambulance, GP, Adult Social Care, Police etc).
Ask the adult what their views are of the concerns and what they would like to happen.
Ask for their consent to share the information.
Where consent not given, advise the adult you have a duty to inform the Local Authority, but will be very clear that consent not given.

7. Raising concerns
Consider the Adult’s Mental Capacity and provide information regarding this when raising the concern.
New template and guidance (Connect to Support)
Record risks to adult and others.
Record any actions that have already been taken.
NB. If in doubt, share the information. Not all concerns will need to be progressed as a Safeguarding Enquiry but the information may be useful in preventing further concerns.

8. Case Examples
A carer is trying to support a person who has recently moved into the care home you manage. The person refuses to allow the carer to assist them and becomes verbally aggressive, what do you do?
You/a carer is assisting an adult with personal care and notice a large bruise to their back and a small skin tear on their left arm. The adult is not able to tell you how it happened and there is no record of an incident or injury in the records. Imagine you work for Adult Services. What would you want to know?

9. Case Examples: Discussion
At what point does ‘self neglect’ become Adult Safeguarding? Consider: the person’s views and capacity, recording, history, care plans/risk assessments, escalation, other professionals / shared decisions. Key: Risk, Capacity.
Consider: the person’s views and capacity, recording, history (one off or repeat), care plans/risk assessments, other professionals / shared decisions, CQC, WSCC Contracts.

10. Useful Information Adults Care Point: 01243 642121
Online Safeguarding Concern Form:
Connect to Support (‘Word’ version of Safeguarding Adults Concern Form & guidance, plus Safeguarding Adults Enquiry Summary & guidance).
Learning & Development Gateway: Safeguarding Adults Enquiry Officer Training.