Safeguarding is the action that is taken by a wide range of agencies and the Third Sector to promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, by preventing and protecting them from harm and abuse.
Safeguarding means:
- protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from abuse and maltreatment
- preventing harm to the health or development of children, young people or vulnerable adults
- ensuring children and vulnerable adults have safe and effective care
- taking action to enable all children and vulnerable adults to have the best outcomes.
Child and adult protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children or vulnerable adults who have been identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.