Adult Safeguarding Course: Aims and Objectives

These aims and objectives are designed to provide learners with a foundational understanding of adult safeguarding principles, legal frameworks, and practical steps for effective intervention.

Course Aim

The primary aim of this course is to equip all participants with the knowledge and confidence necessary to recognise, report, and respond appropriately to concerns of abuse, neglect, or harm involving adults with care and support needs, adhering to the principles of "Making Safeguarding Personal" (MSP) and relevant statutory guidance.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Define and Understand Concepts

• Define "adult at risk" and identify the criteria that qualify an individual for adult safeguarding protection under the Care Act 2014.
• Identify and describe the 10 core categories of abuse and neglect (e.g., physical, financial, emotional, discriminatory, organisational, self-neglect).
• Explain the underlying philosophy of "Making Safeguarding Personal" (MSP) and its importance in placing the adult's wishes and desired outcomes at the centre of the safeguarding process.

2. Legal and Policy Framework

• Outline the key legal and statutory duties relating to adult safeguarding in England, primarily the Care Act 2014 (Sections 42-47).
• Distinguish between the roles and responsibilities of different agencies and individuals (e.g., local authority, police, health providers, and staff/volunteers) in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.

3. Recognise and Report Concerns

• Recognise the signs and indicators of different types of abuse and neglect in varied settings and contexts.
• Determine what constitutes a safeguarding concern that must be reported to the relevant local authority or designated safeguarding lead.
• Apply their organisation's specific reporting procedures effectively and accurately, including documenting the concern clearly and objectively.

4. Responding and Intervention

• Articulate the principles of effective information sharing, balancing confidentiality with the duty to safeguard.
• Explain the importance of immediate safety measures and how to take appropriate emergency action when an adult is in imminent danger.
• Communicate sensitively and effectively with an adult who may be experiencing abuse or neglect, ensuring their dignity and autonomy are maintained throughout the process.

5. Preventive Practice

• Identify measures within their own roles and work environments that can reduce the likelihood of abuse and neglect (e.g., clear professional boundaries, secure financial practices).
• Commit to ongoing personal and professional development related to safeguarding best practice.

Focus: Protecting adults with care and support needs from abuse and neglect (e.g., financial abuse, self-neglect, modern slavery, institutional abuse).

Who It's For: Care homes, domiciliary care providers, hospitals, supported living services, adult social care teams, and organisations supporting vulnerable adults.

Key Topics: "Care Act" principles (e.g., empowerment, protection, partnership), Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP), and recognising the nine categories of abuse.