Reading List

The sources below are primary references for residential care staff and managers. England documents are used as detailed examples in the course; staff in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland should follow their national frameworks and local safeguarding arrangements. Always follow your employer's policy and your local safeguarding route.

England: legal and practice framework

• GOV.UK: Care and support statutory guidance, Chapter 14 Safeguarding
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance
  The core England safeguarding framework. Covers the legal definition of abuse, the six safeguarding principles, Making Safeguarding Personal, multi-agency duties, information sharing, and the list of abuse and neglect types.
• Care Quality Commission: Regulation 13 - Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment
  https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/regulations-service-providers-and-managers/health-social-care-act/regulation-13
  Essential for care homes in England. Links safeguarding to neglect, degrading treatment, discrimination, restraint, and deprivation of liberty, and sets out what providers and staff must do when abuse is suspected.
• NICE NG189: Safeguarding adults in care homes
  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng189
  Care-home-specific guidance on recognising indicators, taking immediate action, supporting residents during enquiries, whistleblowing, organisational abuse, and day-to-day responsibilities.
• Skills for Care: Care Certificate standards March 2025
  https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/resources/documents/Developing-your-workforce/Care-Certificate/Care-Certificate-Standards/Care-Certificate-standards-March-2025.pdf
  Frontline learning outcomes, including abuse types and indicators, restrictive practice, dignity, local safeguarding arrangements, and expected actions if abuse is suspected or disclosed.
• Department of Health and Social Care: Safeguarding adults, England, 2024 to 2025 statistical commentary
  https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safeguarding-adults-england-2024-to-2025/safeguarding-adults-england-2024-to-2025-statistical-commentary
  Provides current national figures. The latest data show neglect and acts of omission remain the most common risk type in concluded section 42 enquiries.
• CQC: Report a concern if you are a member of staff
  https://www.cqc.org.uk/contact-us/report-concern/report-concern-if-you-are-member-staff
  A practical external route to consider alongside local whistleblowing arrangements if internal escalation feels unsafe or is blocked.

Other UK nations: proportionate signposting

• GOV.WALES: Safeguarding adults at risk of abuse or neglect
  https://www.gov.wales/safeguarding-adults-risk-abuse-or-neglect
  Wales uses the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 framework rather than the Care Act 2014. Welsh staff should follow the Welsh guidance and local safeguarding board arrangements.
• GOV.WALES: Working Together to Safeguard People, Volume 6
  https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-06/volume-6-handling-individual-cases-to-protect-adults-at-risk.pdf
  A Wales-specific guide to the definition of an adult at risk, duties to report, and local authority enquiries.
• Scottish Government: Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 Code of Practice
  https://www.gov.scot/publications/adult-support-protection-scotland-act-2007-code-practice-3/
  Scotland operates a different adult support and protection framework, with its own principles, inquiry processes, and protection powers.
• Northern Ireland Department of Health: Adult Safeguarding - Prevention and Protection in Partnership
  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/adult-safeguarding-prevention-and-protection-partnership
  Northern Ireland's framework focuses on abuse, exploitation, neglect, prevention, early intervention, and access to justice.