1. The Six Principles
There are six principles which apply to all sectors and settings including care and support services, further education colleges, commissioning, regulation and provision of health and care services, social work, healthcare, welfare benefits, housing, wider local authority functions and the criminal justice system.
The principles should inform the ways in which professionals and other staff work with adults.
- Empowerment: People are supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and give informed consent. People must always be treated with dignity and respect, and staff should work alongside them to ensure they receive quality, person-centred care which ensures they are safe on their own terms.
“I am asked what I want as the outcomes from the safeguarding process and my responses directly inform what happens”.
- Prevention: Prevention and early support are key to effective safeguarding. The principle of prevention recognises the importance of taking action before harm occurs and seeks to put mechanisms in place so that they don’t reoccur.
“I receive clear and simple information about what abuse is, how to recognise the signs and what I can do to seek help.”
- Proportionality: The means deciding the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
“I am sure that the professionals will work in my interest, as I see them and they will only get involved as much as needed.”
- Protection: This involves organising and delivery support and representation for those in greatest need who may not be able to do it themselves.
“I get help and support to report abuse and neglect. I get help so that I am able to take part in the safeguarding process to the extent to which I want.”
- Partnership: Effective safeguarding cannot be delivered in isolation, and should involve other partners and systems that interact with or impact on a person. Local solutions are best achieved through services working with their communities, professionals and services as a whole.
“I know that staff treat any personal and sensitive information in confidence, only sharing what is helpful and necessary. I am confident that professionals will work together and with me to get the best result for me.”
- Accountability: This recognises the importance of being open, clear and honest in the delivery of safeguarding, and ensuring there are systems in place to hold practitioners and services to account.
“I understand the role of everyone involved in my life and so do they.”
