Adult safeguarding (Care Act)
What it means
The Care Act 2014 duty to safeguard an adult who has care/support needs, is experiencing (or at risk of) abuse/neglect, and cannot protect themselves because of those needs. Principles: empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership, accountability. Raise a safeguarding concern to the local authority; involve the person (Making Safeguarding Personal) and consider capacity/DoLS.
Worked example
A dependent adult with dementia whose finances are being exploited by a carer meets the Care Act criteria — raise a safeguarding concern to the local authority.
In the exam
A vulnerable adult with care needs is being financially exploited and cannot protect himself because of his condition.
What settles it
Adult safeguarding requires the person to have CARE/SUPPORT NEEDS and be unable to protect themselves — a capacitous adult free from those needs makes their own (even unwise) choices.
Classically confused with
Types of abuse
Source: Care Act 2014