What are the Six Principles of Safeguarding?
4 min read
Safeguarding seeks to protect an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. This approach is enshrined in the Care Act 2014 which establishes the foundation for the six key principles of safeguarding adults. Anyone who works in adult health and social care and has a responsibility for safeguarding must have an understanding of the six principles so that they can support this right. In this article, we will outline the six principles of safeguarding, why they are important in adult safeguarding and how to apply them in your everyday practice.
What are the Six Principles of Safeguarding?
The six principles of safeguarding underpin all adult safeguarding work and apply to all care and support services. As such, they should be seen as the foundation of effective and compassionate safeguarding.
The six safeguarding principles are set out in the Department of Health and Social Care’s Care and Support Statutory Guidance which provides supplementary information on the Care Act 2014. The guidance introduces the six principles as foundations that should inform the ways in which professionals and other staff work with adults.
The six principles of safeguarding are as follows:
Empowerment – People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent.
- In practice this may look like a care provider fully explaining the different options available to an individual to help them choose what would work best for them.
- I am asked what I want as the outcomes from the safeguarding process and these directly inform what happens.
Prevention – It is better to take action before harm occurs.
- In practice this may look like training staff to ensure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to provide compassionate, person-centred care. Training could also specifically include recognising early warning signs of abuse.
- 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 least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
- In practice this may look like a care provider carefully assessing a situation before taking action to ensure any response is a warranted reflection of the situation.
- 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 – Support and representation for those in greatest need.
- In practice this may look like a care provider supporting an adult to report abuse to the police and/or local authority after a disclosure is made.
- 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 – Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse.
- In practice this may look like different services working collaboratively to improve support in the local community.
- 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 – Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.
- In practice this may look like a care home regularly reviewing training and conducting audits to ensure that high levels of care are being maintained.
- I understand the role of everyone involved in my life, and so do they.
Why are the Six Principles of Safeguarding Important?
The six principles of safeguarding are important as they inform the way that care providers support the people using their services. Adult safeguarding seeks to balance the right to be safe with the right to make informed choices whilst keeping an adult’s wellbeing at the core of all decisions. Applying the six principles supports this balance and encourages a holistic approach to an adult’s wellbeing.
The Care Act 2014 highlights the importance of good care in promoting an individual’s wellbeing. As defined in Section 1 of the Act, ‘wellbeing’ refers to an individual’s wellbeing in relation to any of the following:
- Personal dignity (including treatment of the individual with respect)
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Protection from abuse and neglect
- Control by the individual over day-to-day life
- Participation in work, education, training or recreation
- Social and economic wellbeing
- Domestic, family and personal relationships
- Suitability of living accommodation
- The individual’s contribution to society
It’s vital that all aspects of a person’s wellbeing are considered when providing care and no one aspect of a person’s wellbeing should be given priority over another; there is no hierarchy in the aspects of wellbeing and each aspect is a positive outcome of good wellbeing. The six principles of safeguarding are important as they support a person’s wellbeing and help to embed dignity, compassion and respect for human rights into care provision. When these principles are embodied in everyday practices individuals are empowered to live independently whilst accessing life improving support.
Looking for More?
Our wide range of Safeguarding Courses help individuals to learn about effective safeguarding practices. From Advanced Safeguarding Adults Training to Care Certificate training, our comprehensive online training will give you the tools to keep service users safe, provide person-centred care and protect people from harm.
How to Apply the Principles in Everyday Practice
The six principles of safeguarding are not just theory; they must be embedded into everyday practice to have the intended impact. Understanding the six principles is an important start, however it is essential that they are also embodied in daily practices.
Applying the six principles in everyday practice can include:
- Involving individuals in their care wherever reasonably possible.
- Offering individualised person-centred care to reduce the risk of negative, unfair or harmful treatment by putting the individual at the centre of decision making.
- Explaining the different support options available so that an individual can make the best informed decisions for them.
- Training staff to recognise early signs of abuse and the different types of abuse someone may experience.
- Conducting internal audits and refreshing staff training to ensure that high safeguarding standards are maintained.
- Ensuring that lines of communication between individuals and care providers are always open.
- Sharing information, where appropriate and necessary, between safeguarding bodies so that multiple agencies can work together to support individuals.
- Practising active listening when engaging with service users so that they know they are being taken seriously and their needs are being carefully considered.
- Accurately and promptly recording information so that there is a detailed and useful record of an individual’s support needs and/or concerns about their care.
- Reporting concerns promptly and through the appropriate channels so that there is no delay in urgent action to protect an individual.
- Considering all appropriate safeguarding actions that would suit a specific situation.
The six principles of safeguarding are the foundation of providing adults with compassionate and dignified care. They help to create safer environments for adults at risk and embed empowerment, compassion and respect into everyday care provision. It is essential that those who have a responsibility to safeguard adults understand and embody the six principles of safeguarding so that vulnerable individuals can live with dignity and autonomy.
Further Resources:
- Safeguarding Courses
- Duty of Care in Health and Social Care: Responsibilities & Examples
- Record Keeping in Health and Social Care
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