CONTENTS
1. Scope of the Adult Policies, Procedures and Practice Resource
This Adult Policies, Procedures and Practice (APPP) Resource covers:
- the legislative requirements and expectations on individual services to safeguard and promote the wellbeing of adults in the exercise of their respective functions, relating to adults with needs for care and support and carers; and
- a framework for South Tyneside Safeguarding Adults Board to monitor the effective implementation of policies and procedures.
2. The Safeguarding Duty
Under section 42 of the Care Act 2014, local authorities have legal adult safeguarding duties which are to:
- make enquiries, or cause others to do so, when a concern has been raised about an adult in its area (whether or not they are ordinarily resident in it) to establish whether an action should be taken to prevent or stop abuse or neglect.
- This duty applies to an adult who:
- has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs); and
- is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
- as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.
Regardless of whether the local authority is providing any services to the adult, it must follow up any concerns about either actual or suspected abuse or neglect.
The adult experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect will be referred to as the ‘adult’ throughout this APPP, replacing previous terms of adult at risk or vulnerable adult.
3. Supplementary Guidance and Information
The chapters in this APPP should be read alongside the Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support Statutory Guidance.
Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) is a person-centred and outcome focused approach to safeguarding adults. It emphasises that the adult concerned must always be at the centre of adult safeguarding, and that their wishes and views should be sought at the earliest opportunity (for more information, see Making Safeguarding Personal chapter).
The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) mean that all staff should ensure that decisions and actions are taken in line with the requirements of the Act.
