Exam Pass Notes

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Key Takeaways

• Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Non-clinical pharmacy workers have a Level 2 role in recognising, responding, recording and escalating concerns about adults at risk.
• You do not need proof or a complete picture before raising a concern. Timely action and clear factual records matter more than certainty.
• Adults at risk may show subtle signs during routine pharmacy contact, including fear, withdrawal, controlling relationships, unexplained injuries, repeated unmet needs or difficulty speaking freely.
• If someone faces immediate danger, act urgently. For other concerns, report promptly to your safeguarding lead or follow your local safeguarding route.
• Safeguarding structures and legal frameworks differ across the UK. Follow your national and local procedures.
• Good practice includes using professional curiosity, communicating respectfully, sharing information lawfully, and understanding your role boundaries.

Adults at Risk

• Adult safeguarding: Protect adults who may be at risk because of abuse, neglect, dependency, frailty, disability, ill health, coercion or unequal power.
• Key principles: Empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership and accountability.
• Possible abuse types: Physical, psychological, sexual, financial, discriminatory, domestic abuse, organisational abuse, self-neglect, modern slavery and abuse by someone in a position of trust.
• Mental Capacity Act 2005: In England and Wales presume capacity unless assessed otherwise. Capacity is decision-specific; seek advice rather than making assumptions.
• Adult voice and risk: Record and consider the adult's wishes and views, but escalate where there is serious risk, coercion or concern about capacity.

Recognising Concerns in Pharmacy Practice

• Concerns can arise at the medicines counter, reception, by phone, during repeat visits or on deliveries.
• Look for patterns such as another person speaking for the adult, restricted privacy, visible fear, unexplained injuries, repeated missed collections, chaotic medicine use or signs of neglect.
• Be alert to specific issues such as domestic abuse, coercive control, forced marriage, honour-based abuse, trafficking, modern slavery and vulnerability to radicalisation.
• Professional curiosity means noticing inconsistencies, asking what might be happening and avoiding quick reassurance from surface explanations.

Responding Safely

1. Consider immediate safety first - if someone is in urgent danger, act without delay.
2. Listen calmly. Do not investigate, challenge aggressively or promise absolute secrecy.
3. Record what you saw, heard and did, separating fact from opinion.
4. Escalate to the safeguarding lead, manager or the local safeguarding route as appropriate.
5. If you feel a concern is not being taken seriously, escalate further.

Recording and Information Sharing

• Write records as soon as possible. Keep them factual, specific and relevant.
• Include dates, times, who was present, what was said and what action you took.
• Note the adult's wishes and views where appropriate, while keeping focus on risk.
• Share information lawfully with the right people when needed to protect an adult at risk.

Preparing the Pharmacy

• Ensure safeguarding policies, escalation routes and contact details are easily accessible.
• Support regular training, clear role boundaries and safe ways to offer brief private conversations.
• Consider lone working, deliveries, colleague concerns and how the team will respond in real situations.
• A safer pharmacy culture lets staff speak up and act promptly when they have concerns.