Safeguarding Adults and Children
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. NHS staff play a vital role in protecting children and adults at risk from harm, neglect, abuse, and exploitation. Recognising signs early and taking appropriate action can save lives and preserve dignity.
👶 What is Safeguarding?
- Protecting people’s health, wellbeing, and human rights.
- Ensuring individuals live free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
- Recognising vulnerability due to age, illness, disability, or social factors.
🔑 Principles of Safeguarding (Adults)
- 👤 Empowerment – People are supported to make their own decisions.
- 🛡️ Protection – Support and representation for those in greatest need.
- 📢 Prevention – Take action before harm occurs.
- 🤝 Partnership – Work with local services and communities.
- 📖 Proportionality – Least intrusive response appropriate to the risk.
- ✔️ Accountability – Clear roles and responsibilities.
👦 Safeguarding Children
- Children have a right to be safe and to be protected from harm.
- Abuse may be physical, emotional, sexual, or neglect.
- Staff must be alert to child protection concerns, including domestic abuse, FGM, exploitation, and online risks.
- Follow the Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) guidance.
⚠️ Types of Abuse
- 👊 Physical abuse
- 🗣️ Emotional/psychological abuse
- 💰 Financial exploitation
- ❌ Neglect & self-neglect
- 📵 Domestic abuse
- 🧑🦼 Discriminatory abuse
- 👶 Child sexual exploitation (CSE)
- 🌍 Modern slavery / human trafficking
👀 Recognising Signs
- Unexplained injuries or frequent attendances 🚑
- Fearful, withdrawn, or anxious behaviour 😟
- Poor hygiene, malnutrition, inappropriate clothing 🍽️
- Delay in seeking help or inconsistent explanations ⏳
- Financial irregularities (missing possessions, sudden debt) 💳
- Children missing school or presenting with unusual injuries 🎒
📢 What To Do If You’re Concerned
- 👂 Listen carefully and do not promise secrecy.
- 📝 Record facts accurately (who, what, when, where).
- 📞 Report immediately to your line manager or Safeguarding Lead.
- 🚨 If a person is in immediate danger, call 999.
- 📤 Share concerns via your Trust’s safeguarding procedures - do not investigate yourself.
⚖️ Key Legal Frameworks
- Children Act 1989 & 2004 👶
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) 📘
- Care Act 2014 👵
- Human Rights Act 1998 ⚖️
- Domestic Abuse Act 2021 🏠
🧾 Your Responsibility
- Safeguarding is part of mandatory training for all NHS staff.
- Be familiar with your Trust’s safeguarding policy.
- Know your local Safeguarding Lead and how to escalate concerns.
- Maintain professional curiosity – if something feels wrong, act.
📚 References & Further Learning
