If you are worried that an adult is being abused, neglected or exploited — by anyone — you have the right to report it. You do not need to be certain, and you do not need to be a professional. This guide explains exactly who to contact, what happens after you report, and how to stay anonymous if you choose.
⚠️ If someone is in immediate danger right now — call 999. For non-emergency police, call 101. For concerns about a registered care provider, contact the CQC on 0300 061 6161.
Adult safeguarding means protecting adults who are at risk from abuse, neglect and exploitation. It is not just about responding to harm that has already occurred — it is also about preventing harm before it happens and promoting the wellbeing of people who may be vulnerable.
The legal framework for adult safeguarding in England is set out in the Care Act 2014. Under Section 42, every local authority (council) has a statutory duty to make enquiries — or cause enquiries to be made — when it believes an adult in its area may be at risk of abuse or neglect. This means that if you report a concern to your council, they are legally obliged to investigate it.
Adult safeguarding applies to all settings: private homes, care homes, hospitals, day centres, supported living, and any other environment where adults may be in contact with others.
Under the Care Act 2014, an adult at risk is a person who meets all three of the following criteria:
This definition is deliberately broad. You do not need to know exactly which category applies — if you are worried about an adult and believe they may need support to protect themselves, report it and let the professionals make that determination.
Adult safeguarding can apply to a very wide range of people. Examples of those covered include:
Safeguarding can apply whether the person is living at home, in a care home, supported living, or any other setting. The key test is whether the person has care and support needs that leave them unable to protect themselves.
The Care Act 2014 and accompanying guidance identify ten categories of abuse and neglect. Being aware of these helps you recognise when to act:
Hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, pinching, burning, or causing any form of physical pain or injury. Includes inappropriate restraint, force-feeding, withholding of medication as a punishment, or the misuse of physical interventions. Physical abuse can be carried out by anyone — a family member, a paid carer, a stranger, or another service user.
Controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members. This includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. The law includes honour-based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.
Any form of sexual contact or activity without consent — including rape, sexual assault, sexual acts to which the person has not or cannot consent, and exposure to sexual content or activity. This can be carried out by strangers, acquaintances, partners, family members, carers or care workers.
Threats, intimidation, humiliation, harassment, isolation, bullying, and controlling behaviour that causes emotional harm. This includes telling someone they are worthless, threatening to put them in a care home, preventing them from seeing family and friends, or constantly criticising or undermining them.
Theft of money or possessions; fraud; exploitation of someone's financial resources; pressure or undue influence to make financial gifts or change a will; misuse of lasting power of attorney; someone managing another person's money for their own benefit rather than the person's. Financial abuse is one of the most common forms affecting older adults.
Human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, domestic servitude, and other forms of exploitation where a person is controlled by another. Adults with care and support needs can be targeted because of their vulnerability. Signs include appearing malnourished, fearful, controlled, or unable to speak freely.
Abuse, harassment, insults or unfair treatment based on a person's race, religion, culture, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristic. This includes derogatory language, denying culturally appropriate care, and targeting a person because of who they are.
Poor or inadequate care practices within a care home, hospital, day service, or other setting that put people at risk or cause them harm. This includes rigid routines that ignore individual needs, staff attitudes that undermine dignity, failure to provide adequate food, drink or personal care, and the normalisation of poor standards of treatment.
Failure to provide appropriate care, support or supervision. This includes ignoring medical or care needs; withholding food, water, medication or heating; leaving someone in soiled clothing; failing to seek medical attention when needed; and not providing prescribed support. Neglect can be deliberate or the result of a lack of knowledge, skills or resources.
When a person is unable or unwilling to care for themselves to a degree that threatens their health, safety or wellbeing. This may include hoarding, refusing medical treatment, not eating, poor personal hygiene, or living in hazardous conditions. Self-neglect is complex — the person's capacity and their right to make their own decisions must be carefully considered alongside safeguarding concerns.
Anyone can make a safeguarding referral — you do not need to be a professional, a family member, or directly involved. Members of the public who are concerned about a neighbour, an acquaintance, or someone they encounter in the course of their work or daily life can and should report concerns.
You do not need to be certain that abuse is happening. If you are worried, that is enough reason to report. The job of assessing and investigating the concern belongs to trained professionals — your job is simply to pass on what you have seen, heard or been told. Do not let uncertainty or fear of "getting it wrong" stop you from acting.
You can report a concern:
If you are a professional or worker in a health or social care setting, you have a particular duty to act on safeguarding concerns. Failing to do so when you have reasonable grounds for concern can constitute professional misconduct.
If the adult is in immediate physical danger, is being actively harmed, or you believe a crime is being committed right now — call 999 immediately. Do not wait. The police and/or ambulance service will attend and ensure the person is safe. Safeguarding processes follow on from there.
For non-emergency concerns, your first call should be to the local council for the area where the adult at risk lives. Contact their Adult Safeguarding team or Adult Social Care team. You can find the number by searching "[your council name] adult safeguarding" or "[your council name] adult social care." Most councils have a dedicated safeguarding duty line, often available 24 hours.
If you do not know which council covers the area, call the council's main switchboard and ask to be put through to Adult Safeguarding. You will be asked for details about the person at risk and the nature of your concern — have as much information as you can ready, but do not delay reporting just because you do not have all the details.
If the concern involves a care home, home care agency, day service, or any other provider registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), you can also report directly to the CQC. The CQC regulates all care providers in England and can take regulatory action, including inspection, warning notices, and cancellation of registration.
CQC phone: 0300 061 6161 | Website: cqc.org.uk
Important: reporting to the CQC is a separate step from reporting to the council — it is not a substitute. Report to both. The CQC does not investigate individual complaints; it takes a regulatory view. The council carries out the safeguarding investigation under Section 42 of the Care Act.
If you believe that a crime has been committed — including theft, fraud, physical assault, sexual assault, or any other criminal act — report it to the police via the non-emergency number 101. The police work alongside Adult Social Care in safeguarding investigations. A police report does not prevent a safeguarding referral and vice versa — you can and should do both.
If the concern involves a nurse or midwife, report to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). If it involves a doctor, report to the General Medical Council (GMC). For other regulated health professionals, contact the relevant regulator (e.g. HCPC for therapists, paramedics and social workers). You can also report to NHS England if the concern involves NHS-employed staff. These reports are additional to — not instead of — reporting to the council.
Once a safeguarding referral is received by the local authority, the following process applies under the Care Act 2014:
The council must acknowledge your referral and carry out an initial assessment to decide whether the Section 42 duty to enquire is engaged. This initial decision is usually made within a matter of hours for high-risk concerns. The council will consider the nature and seriousness of the concern, whether the person is in immediate danger, and whether the duty to enquire applies.
If the Section 42 duty is engaged, the council must make — or cause to be made — whatever enquiries are necessary to determine whether any action needs to be taken and what that action should be. This may involve visiting the person at risk, speaking to those involved, gathering evidence from care records, and interviewing relevant parties.
For more complex cases, a Safeguarding Adults Conference may be convened. This brings together the relevant agencies — social workers, health professionals, police, the care provider, and possibly the family — to share information and agree a coordinated response. The adult at risk has the right to attend and to be heard, and their wishes and feelings must be central to the process.
If the enquiry confirms that safeguarding action is needed, a Safeguarding Adults Plan will be agreed and recorded. This sets out what actions will be taken, by whom, and by when, to keep the person safe. It should also reflect the person's desired outcomes — what they want to happen as a result of the safeguarding process.
Throughout the safeguarding process, the adult at risk has the right to be fully involved in decisions about their own safety. The Care Act 2014 places great emphasis on making safeguarding personal — the process should be tailored to the individual's circumstances, wishes and needs, rather than following a rigid procedural approach. If the adult lacks mental capacity, an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) can be appointed to represent their interests.
You can report a safeguarding concern anonymously. You do not have to give your name if you do not wish to. However, be aware that an anonymous report may limit the investigation — it is harder for investigators to follow up or ask clarifying questions if they cannot contact you.
If you do give your name, you will not normally be identified to the person you have reported or to the subject of the concern. The council has a duty of confidentiality towards people who make referrals in good faith.
If you are a worker — employed in a care setting, as an NHS employee, or in any capacity where you are raising a concern in the public interest — you are entitled to whistleblowing protections under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. This means your employer cannot legally dismiss you or subject you to any detriment as a result of making a safeguarding referral in good faith. If you face such treatment, contact Protect (formerly Public Concern at Work), the whistleblowing charity: 020 3117 2520.
Every local area in England has a Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB). These are multi-agency bodies established under the Care Act 2014, bringing together the local authority, NHS (Integrated Care Board), police, and other relevant agencies. Their role is to:
You can find the contact details for your local Safeguarding Adults Board by searching "[your council area] Safeguarding Adults Board." Many SABs have public-facing websites with guidance and referral information.
Ekvarta takes its safeguarding responsibilities seriously. All Ekvarta staff receive safeguarding training and are required to report any concerns through our internal safeguarding procedures. We have a designated safeguarding lead, and all concerns are escalated to the relevant local authority without delay.
If you have a safeguarding concern about an Ekvarta client or about Ekvarta's services, please refer to our Safeguarding Policy or contact us directly. We will take all concerns seriously and act promptly.
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