Question a:
In an area that is not your main focus of work (see guidance above), explain the relevant legislation, and the national, local and organisational policies and procedures for safeguarding. 

Safeguarding adults in Wales operates within a robust legislative, policy, and procedural framework designed to protect adults at risk of abuse or neglect, promote their wellbeing, and uphold their rights. This system functions across national, local, and organisational levels, emphasising multi-agency collaboration and consistent practice. Central to adult safeguarding legislation in Wales is the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (SSWBA), which provides the statutory foundation for protection. Part 7 of the Act establishes a duty on local authorities to make enquiries when there is reasonable cause to suspect an adult is at risk. The Act defines an adult at risk as a person who is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, has care and support needs, and as a consequence of those needs, is unable to protect themselves. This definition highlights both the vulnerabilities arising from personal circumstances and the impact of care and support needs on an adult’s capacity to safeguard themselves.

The SSWBA also introduced Adult Protection and Support Orders (APSOs), which enable authorised officers to access adults at risk when other engagement attempts have failed. APSOs are particularly significant in situations of coercive control or obstruction, allowing for timely intervention while maintaining a legal framework. Additionally, the Act mandates the establishment of Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs) in every region of Wales. These boards coordinate safeguarding activity, monitor the effectiveness of local arrangements, and bring together statutory partners—including local authorities, health boards, and police—to ensure a cohesive, collaborative approach to safeguarding.

Statutory guidance, such as Working Together to Safeguard People, provides clarity on roles, responsibilities, and intervention thresholds. Volume 6 specifically addresses adults at risk, outlining procedures for information sharing, conducting enquiries, involving adults in decision-making, and ensuring access to advocacy services. Complementing this, the Wales Safeguarding Procedures provide a consistent framework for practice across all sectors, embedding principles such as empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership, and accountability.

At the local level, SABs implement area-wide safeguarding strategies, coordinate multi-agency responses, and conduct reviews, including Adult Practice Reviews (APRs), when an adult has died or suffered serious harm and abuse is suspected. These processes aim to identify learning opportunities to strengthen future safeguarding interventions. Local authorities are responsible for assessing risk, coordinating responses, and providing appropriate care and protection tailored to individual circumstances.

Organisations delivering care must align internal safeguarding policies with national legislation and local guidance. This includes staff training, reporting mechanisms, whistleblowing procedures, and safe recruitment practices. Staff must be equipped to identify abuse, understand thresholds, and escalate concerns appropriately, fostering a culture of openness, accountability, and continuous learning. Importantly, safeguarding adults balances protective duties with respect for individual autonomy, recognising that adults have the capacity to make their own decisions, even if those decisions may entail risk.

Overall, safeguarding in Wales is an integrated, multi-layered system. National legislation and guidance set the framework, SABs and local authorities translate these into contextual practice, and organisations operationalise them in frontline services. Continuous review, audits, and feedback mechanisms ensure ongoing improvement. Effective safeguarding relies not only on procedural compliance but also on professional judgement, multi-agency collaboration, and an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences and needs of adults at risk.

(528 words)




500 words (+/- 10%: include your actual word count at the end of each section).




Question b:
Reflect on the difference between safeguarding in adults’ and children’s work


400 words (+/- 10%: include your actual word count at the end of each section).
Safeguarding in adults’ and children’s work in Wales differs significantly in terms of statutory obligations, professional responsibilities, and ethical considerations. In children’s safeguarding, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (SSWBA) and the Children Act 1989 establish a duty to protect children at risk of harm. Practitioners are mandated to act when they suspect abuse or neglect, regardless of consent, recognising that children may lack the capacity to make informed decisions. The concepts of Gillick competence (Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority, 1985) and the Fraser guidelines (Department of Health, 2004) provide guidance for determining when children under 16 can consent to aspects of their care, but parental responsibility remains central, and professionals must weigh children’s expressed wishes against their duty to ensure safety. This statutory duty to report risk highlights that safeguarding children is inherently protective and proactive.

In contrast, adult safeguarding is guided by Part 7 of the SSWBA 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Wales), and local multi-agency safeguarding boards. Adults are presumed to have capacity, and interventions often require consent unless there is immediate risk of harm. Capacity assessments are complex and context-specific; adults may make decisions that others consider unwise, yet legal safeguards respect their autonomy. Determining incapacity can be challenging, particularly when mental health, cognitive impairment, or coercion is involved, making proof of impaired decision-making more difficult than in children’s work. Consent is generally required for referrals or intervention, except in urgent circumstances, and adults can refuse support even when risks are evident. Categories of abuse in adults include financial abuse, neglect, physical or psychological harm, and exploitation, reflecting the broader spectrum of vulnerabilities considered in adult safeguarding (Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales, 2018).

The practical application of safeguarding further differentiates the two domains. Children’s safeguarding allows for statutory intervention, including child protection plans, care proceedings, and direct agency action without consent. Adults’ safeguarding focuses on advocacy, support, and risk management, emphasising empowerment alongside protection. Multi-agency collaboration is crucial in both fields, but adult safeguarding requires careful balancing of autonomy, consent, and statutory duty, while children’s safeguarding prioritises protection and timely intervention.

In conclusion, safeguarding children in Wales emphasises proactive statutory protection, parental responsibility, and mandatory reporting, supported by guidance on capacity and consent for specific decisions. Safeguarding adults prioritises consent, capacity assessment, and the recognition of autonomy, with interventions implemented only where risks are significant or capacity is impaired. Understanding these differences is essential for professional, ethical, and legally compliant practice.

(416 words)