What is adult safeguarding?
What is Adult Safeguarding?
The term safeguarding describes how organisations in Trafford work together and support individuals and families to live safely, free from abuse and neglect. Where there are concerns about an adult’s safety, safeguarding also means making sure that the adult's wellbeing is supported and their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs are respected when agreeing on any action.
Safeguarding is Everyone’s Business
By law, each local authority area In England must have a safeguarding adults board that brings together a range of organisations to oversee and lead adult safeguarding in the borough. The work of the board is about local people, agencies and organisations working together to prevent and reduce the risks and experience of abuse and neglect. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Adult Safeguarding aims to raise public awareness so that professionals and communities as a whole play their part in preventing, identifying and responding to abuse and neglect.
Who is an 'adult at risk’?
Adult safeguarding is about helping people considered to be ‘at risk’ of experiencing harm. This is any person who is aged 18 years or over who may need help because they have care and support needs which means they may be unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect. Others may have difficulties making their wishes and feelings known and this can put them at greater risk of abuse or neglect.
What are Care and Support needs?
Care and support is the mixture of practical, financial and emotional support for adults who need extra help to manage their lives and be independent. This can include:
• older people
• people with a disability or long-term health condition
• people with mental health problems
• people with a learning disability
• people who care for someone.
The Care Act (2014) sets out the eligibility criteria which defines whether an adult has care and support needs. Anyone who thinks they might be eligible can request an assessment and if eligible their needs must be met fully or in part by the Local Authority. This support can include the provision of services or the allocation of funds to enable a person to purchase their own care and support. This could include care home, home care, personal assistants, day services, or the provision of aids and adaptations. The overall aim of adult care and support is to help people meet their needs to achieve the outcomes that matter to them in their lives and which in turn promote their wellbeing.
Request for an assessment or general queries: AdultSocialCare@trafford.gov.uk