The 6 Adult Safeguarding Principles

The six adult safeguarding principles are empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership, and accountability.

At Level 3 in clinical practice, these principles guide decisions when a patient may be at risk, especially in sensitive, disputed, or emotionally charged situations. They help keep safeguarding person-centred while ensuring appropriate protective action.

For clinical pharmacy staff, many safeguarding decisions lie between respecting autonomy and reducing harm. A patient may refuse help, minimise problems, or say everything is fine while clinical indicators suggest otherwise. The principles reduce the risk of two errors: doing too little because the adult appears to be choosing the situation, or doing too much in a way that overrides their voice, rights, and dignity.

Using the Principles in Clinical Practice

In clinical practice, the six principles mean:

• Empowerment: listen to the adult and involve them in decisions wherever possible.
• Prevention: act early when a pattern of concern emerges rather than waiting for crisis.
• Proportionality: match your response to the seriousness of the risk.
• Protection: support people who may be unable to keep themselves safe.
• Partnership: work with other professionals and services when needed.
• Accountability: record what you did, why you did it, and how the concern was managed.

These principles do not replace clinical judgement; they provide a structure that helps you weigh medicine use, family dynamics, coercion, fear, self-neglect, and confusion when they occur together.

The six safeguarding principles help you act in a way that is both person-centred and professionally defensible.