Safeguarding - An Introduction

What is Safeguarding and Why do we Need it?

Section one covers the legal aspects of safeguarding with regard to children and young people, and vulnerable adults respectively. It goes on to discuss how important safeguarding is if we are to effectively support those people who may be open to abuse or exploitation.

"Vulnerable Adult" and Groups who are Most at Risk of Harm & "Child" or "Young Person" and the Groups who are Most at Risk of Harm

Section 2 covers people aged over the age of 18 who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental health or other disability, age or illness, and who is or mat be unable to take care of him or herself or unable to protect him or herself from harm or exploitation/ Section 3 looks at children or young people who are under the age of 18 years old.

What is Harm and Abuse, and What are the Different Types of Abuse?

It is essential that you understand what constitutes harm and abuse and that you know how to recognise potential signs of these and know what you should do about it.

Common Signs and Indicators of Abuse

This section looks at when you suspect a specific incident of abuse or have an general feeling that abuse is ongoing or following a pattern you have seen or heard before, you do not ignore your instincts and you take some form of action.

How to Respond if you Suspect Someone may be a Victim of Abuse

If you suspect someone may be a victim of abuse of any kind, you should be able to get all the information you need from your organisations safeguarding procedures or, failing that, from the policies and procedures of either your Local Safeguarding Adults Board or Local Safeguarding Children Board, whichever is appropriate.