Safeguarding Adults

What is adult safeguarding?

• AProtecting only wealthy adults
• BProtecting vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation through systems and practice✓
• CNot important
• DOnly concerns care homes

Answer: Adult safeguarding is about protecting vulnerable people from harm. Everyone in care has a responsibility.

What are the main types of abuse in adult safeguarding?

• AOnly physical abuse
• BPhysical, emotional, sexual, financial, organizational, and neglect✓
• CAbuse doesn't really happen
• DOnly in care homes

Answer: Understanding different abuse types helps you recognise and respond to all forms of harm.

What is physical abuse?

• ARough handling only
• BDeliberately causing physical harm through hitting, pushing, restraint, or physical punishment✓
• CNot really abuse
• DOnly serious injuries count

Answer: Physical abuse includes any intentional use of force that causes harm, from serious injury to minor hitting.

What is emotional abuse?

• ACriticising someone once
• BRepeated patterns of behaviour causing psychological harm, such as insults, threats, or isolation✓
• CNot real abuse
• DOnly happens in abusive relationships

Answer: Emotional abuse causes significant psychological damage through deliberate, repeated harmful behaviours.

A service user shows signs of physical abuse but denies it happened. What should you do?

• ABelieve them and do nothing
• BReport your concerns to your supervisor and safeguarding team—don't interrogate✓
• CConfront the person you suspect
• DTell other service users

Answer: Fear and shame often prevent disclosure of abuse. Your role is to report concerns through proper channels, not to investigate.

What is financial abuse?

• ANot significant abuse
• BStealing money or exploiting finances without consent✓
• COnly affecting rich people
• DAcceptable if a family member does it

Answer: Financial abuse takes advantage of vulnerability and can leave people financially vulnerable and dependent.

A service user seems frightened of their family member who visits. What should you do?

• AIgnore it
• BObserve carefully, report concerns to your supervisor, and support the service user✓
• CTell them to be brave
• DAsk their family member directly

Answer: Observing and reporting concerns protects vulnerable people who may fear losing contact with family.

What is neglect in safeguarding terms?

• AMinor oversight
• BFailure to provide care, food, hygiene, medical treatment, or support needed for wellbeing✓
• CNot serious
• DOnly applies to children

Answer: Neglect—whether deliberate or through lack of attention—can cause serious harm to vulnerable adults.

What is sexual abuse?

• ANot a serious concern
• BAny non-consensual sexual activity, including forced touching or sexual activity with someone unable to consent✓
• COnly forced penetration counts
• DNever happens in care settings

Answer: Sexual abuse includes any non-consensual sexual activity. People without capacity cannot consent.

What is the Mental Capacity Act?

• ANot relevant to safeguarding
• BLegislation determining how to support people with impaired decision-making capacity✓
• COnly about money
• DProtects only wealthy people

Answer: The Mental Capacity Act provides a framework for decisions affecting people without capacity, protecting them from exploitation. Its five key principles are: (1) presumption of capacity, (2) support to make own decisions, (3) right to make unwise decisions, (4) best interests, and (5) less restrictive option.

A colleague suggests a shortcut that bypasses a service user's preferences. This could be:

• APerfectly fine
• BPotentially organizational abuse—prioritising efficiency over individual dignity and choice✓
• CWhat the service user would want
• DNever abuse

Answer: Organizational abuse occurs when policies and practices systematically harm service users by denying dignity, choice, or privacy.

What should you do if you suspect a colleague is abusing a service user?

• AConfront them directly
• BReport it through proper channels to your supervisor or safeguarding team✓
• CTell other colleagues first
• DKeep quiet to protect them

Answer: Reporting suspected abuse is your legal and moral responsibility, even if you suspect a colleague.