Are you looking for information for family, friends, or carers?

Please visit our dedicated family, friends, and carers webpage if you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of an adult with care and support needs, or if you would just like to know more about adult safeguarding and the work of the Safeguarding Adults Board.

Introduction to safeguarding

If you are looking for information for family, friends, or carers, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Safeguarding adults is the process of enabling adults with care and support needs to protect themselves from abuse or neglect. This includes adults with care and support needs who are already experiencing, or are at risk of, abuse or neglect. 

As part of the safeguarding process, professionals must consider:

  • whether the adult's care and support needs mean that they are unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect
  • how people and organisations can work together to minimise and/or prevent the risk of abuse or neglect
  • the views, wishes, feelings and beliefs of the adult, particularly when deciding on any actions to take

Learning resources

The following resources provide an introduction to safeguarding, the types of abuse, and how to refer any safeguarding concerns:

Last updated: 03 September 2025