Safeguarding Adults Policy template

About this document

What it’s for

Your written policy and step-by-step procedure for preventing, recognising, responding to and reporting abuse and neglect of the adults you support. It covers section 42 enquiries, local authority referrals, allegations against staff, the DBS referral duty, CQC notifications and whistleblowing, with a concern record form and contacts sheet.

When to use it

As your main safeguarding policy, adopted before registration or at your next policy review
In induction and annual safeguarding refresher training
As evidence for CQC that you meet Regulation 13 and the “Safe” key question

What’s inside

The document is laid out in the sections below. Each one comes with a plain-English guidance note explaining what it does and what to change.

Policy statement
Scope
Legal and regulatory framework
Definitions
Safeguarding principles and Making Safeguarding Personal
Types and signs of abuse and neglect
Roles and responsibilities
Preventing abuse and neglect
Responding to a concern – what staff must do
Manager’s action on receiving a concern
Referral to the local authority
Section 42 enquiries – our role
Allegations against staff, volunteers and others in a position of trust
Duty to refer to the Disclosure and Barring Service
Notifications to CQC and others
Whistleblowing and speaking up
Information sharing, confidentiality and records
Safeguarding adults reviews and learning
Specific situations
Training, monitoring and review
Related documents

Also included

If you operate outside England
Staff confirmation of reading
1. About the person at risk
2. The concern
3. The person’s views (Making Safeguarding Personal)
4. Immediate action taken
5. Manager’s decisions (safeguarding lead)

How to complete it

Insert your service details, safeguarding lead and deputy
Complete Appendix B with your local authority’s safeguarding contacts and procedures
Check the multi-agency procedures of every local authority you work with and align your wording
Approve, date and brief all staff; keep signed reading records

Key points to check

Local safeguarding adults board (SAB) procedures vary – follow your local ones
The DBS referral duty is a legal duty; failing to refer is a criminal offence

Our templates are professionally structured starting points for UK businesses, not legal advice. For anything complex, unusual or high-value, have your final version checked by a solicitor.

Included in the pack

Care providers

£20

for every document in this category

Editable Microsoft Word files

Guidance notes in every document

Written for UK businesses

Download and keep

Get the pack See every document in this pack →

Need more than one category?

Documents All-Access gives you every category for 12 months for £295.

Compare options →

Need it tailored?

We can adapt any template to your business, or write a document from scratch.

Talk to us →

Safeguarding Adults Policy

What it’s for

When to use it

What’s inside

Also included

How to complete it

Key points to check

Get In Touch

Quick Links

Company information

Legal