What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding helps children and adults that may be at risk to live safe, free from abuse and neglect.
It protects and supports the wellbeing of vulnerable people.
The main aim of safeguarding is to prevent harm from happening. It also teaches people to see how concerns are:
- recognised
- reported
- answered when someone may be at risk.
Sometimes, a person’s situation may not be able to change, even if someone offers them support.
For example, an adult may choose to stay in a situation that is worrying to others. This may include:
- an abusive relationship
- a lifestyle that places them at risk
We must respect the rights and choices of a person, even if we are trying to keep them safe.
We must follow important safety rules to keep a person safe, who we think is being abused or neglected.
The rules make sure the concerns are taken seriously and responded to on time.
People of any age may find it harder to protect themselves if they have an illness or disability. However, some people may face a greater risk. These include:
- people who are physically frail
- people with mental health difficulties
- people with learning disabilities
Safeguarding vulnerable adults
Some adults may find it harder than others to keep themselves safe. This might be because of their health, disability, or difficulties with communication. When someone struggles to express their wishes or feelings, they can be more at risk of abuse or neglect.
Abuse can take many different forms. It may be physical, emotional, or sexual. It can also include:
- taking someone’s money or belongings without their permission
- not providing proper care
- bullying
- humiliation
- isolating someone from their friends, family, or support networks
Abuse may happen as a one-off incident, or it may happen over a long period of time. In some cases, it may not be intentional or planned.
Sometimes harm happens because people do not realise what to do, even if they think they are trying to help. Regardless of intent, abuse can cause real harm.
This harm may be physical, emotional, or financial, and it can seriously affect a person’s wellbeing and quality of life.
The formal definition of abuse is: “A violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons.”
These definitions are based on guidance from the Department of Health, as set out in the Department of Health Care Act 2014 (Opens in a new window).
Safeguarding children and the unborn
Safeguarding means making sure children and young people are safe to grow up healthy, happy, and protected from harm.
In the UK, a child is anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. Safeguarding also protects unborn babies where there are concerns about risk or harm.
Child protection is a key part of safeguarding. It focuses on children who:
- are suffering
- could suffer significant harm and need extra protection
Abuse and neglect are forms of harm to a child. This can happen through physical or emotional harm.
It can also happen when someone fails to protect a child from harm or does not report concerns.
Abuse or neglect can happen in families, communities, or organisations. The person causing harm is often someone the child knows, such as a family member or person they trust. Abuse by strangers can happen, but this is less common.
Abuse and neglect can be physical, emotional, sexual, or involve neglect. It may be a single incident or continue over a long period of time. It can seriously affect a child or young person’s health, development, and wellbeing.
ESNEFT follow safeguarding rules based on national guidance from the NSPCC and the Government.
We also work with local adult and children’s safeguarding boards to help keep children and families safe.
If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child, young person or unborn baby
Essex Safeguarding Children Board (Opens in a new window)
Essex Social Services (Opens in a new window)
Tel: 0345 603 7627
Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership (Opens in a new window)
Suffolk Social Services (Opens in a new window)
Suffolk Social Services Customer First tel: 0808 800 4005
If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of an adult
Essex Adult Social Care (Opens in a new window)
Tel: 0345 603 7630
Suffolk Social Services (Opens in a new window)
Customer First tel: 0808 800 4005
Guidance on Powers of Attorney
The Law Society (Opens in a new window)
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