Safeguarding under the Care Act 2014: A guide for care providers

The Care and Support Statutory Guidance, issued under the Care Act 2014, sets out a legal framework for safeguarding adults in England. Sections 42–46 and Schedule 2 establish the duties of local authorities and other relevant agencies to protect individuals at risk of abuse or neglect.

Section 42 places a duty on local authorities to make safeguarding enquiries if they suspect an adult is at risk, ensuring they receive appropriate support. Section 43 mandates the establishment of Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs), which bring together local organizations to coordinate safeguarding work. Section 44 introduces a legal requirement for Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) when an adult dies as a result of abuse or neglect and there are concerns about how agencies worked together.

Sections 45 and 46 concern the supply of information to SABs and the responsibilities related to protecting property when an adult is admitted to hospital or residential care.

Chapter 14 of the statutory guidance identifies the categories of abuse, detailing their signs and adding additional categories; self neglect, modern slavery and domestic violence, it also emphasises the importance of collaboration between all agencies and a multi-agency approach to safeguarding.

The importance to healthcare professionals

This guidance is mandatory for healthcare professionals because safeguarding is a shared statutory duty. Healthcare staff are often the first to identify signs of abuse or neglect, and under the Act, they have a legal obligation to act on concerns. Compliance ensures that adults who are unable to protect themselves receive timely, coordinated intervention. Furthermore, understanding the statutory framework protects professionals and their organisations legally and ethically, helping them fulfil their “duty of care.” Non-compliance can result in legal consequences, professional misconduct findings, and harm to vulnerable individuals.

Healthcare professionals must, therefore, integrate safeguarding into daily practice, work closely with local safeguarding partnerships, and understand their roles in safeguarding enquiries and reviews. In doing so, they uphold the principles of empowerment, protection, prevention, proportionality, partnership, and accountability outlined in the Care Act.

How we’re empowering care professionals

Acute Training Solutions, one of the UK’s largest care providers, supports healthcare workers by delivering specialist safeguarding training aligned with the Care and Support Statutory Guidance.

Our training, which includes Safeguarding Adults and Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), equips staff with the skills to identify, report, and manage safeguarding concerns.