What are the Six Principles of Safeguarding?

In the UK, safeguarding is a term used to describe the measures taken to protect people’s health, well-being, and human rights. It applies to both children and adults who may be at risk of harm, abuse, or neglect. Safeguarding is not just about responding to incidents but about creating an environment where risks are reduced and people can live safely.

The Care Act 2014 outlines six principles of safeguarding for adults at risk. These principles underpin the way organisations and professionals work together to protect individuals. They ensure that safeguarding practice is person-centred, respectful, and effective. While these principles were designed with adults in mind, many of them can be applied to safeguarding children too. Each principle plays a specific role in guiding professionals and the public in safeguarding situations.

Empowerment

Empowerment means supporting people to make their own decisions and giving them the information they need to make informed choices. Individuals should feel confident that their opinions, wishes, and feelings will be respected in any safeguarding process.

Empowerment is about recognising that people are experts in their own lives. They should have the opportunity to express what they want and need, especially when decisions may affect them. This principle is based on the understanding that safeguarding should not take control away from an individual unless absolutely necessary for their safety.

For example, if an adult at risk reports neglect in a care setting, they should be asked what they would like to happen next. They may want to move to a different service, involve the police, or make an official complaint. They should be presented with all relevant options, including the potential consequences, so they can choose based on their own preferences.

Ways of applying empowerment include:

• Providing clear information in simple language without jargon
• Ensuring that individuals understand their rights and choices
• Allowing time for people to make decisions without pressure
• Offering advocacy support to help people speak up

Empowerment strengthens trust between the person and those involved in their care. It helps them feel in control and acknowledged. In safeguarding, this principle prevents situations where people feel disempowered or overlooked while decisions are made about their lives.

Prevention

Prevention focuses on stopping harm before it happens. It involves identifying risk early and acting to remove or reduce that risk. This principle recognises that safeguarding is not just about reacting to incidents but about taking proactive steps.

Prevention means spotting warning signs and taking steps to address them. It can involve training staff to notice changes in behaviour, creating safe environments, and putting protective measures in place.

For example, in a care home, prevention could include checking that rooms are free from hazards, having policies against financial exploitation, and training staff to notice signs of emotional abuse. In a school setting, it might mean providing lessons about online safety to prevent cyberbullying.

Some preventive actions include:

• Regular risk assessments in living or working environments
• Offering support services early when concerns arise
• Providing education about abuse, neglect, and how to report it
• Encouraging a culture of openness so concerns are raised quickly

By focusing on prevention, organisations avoid situations where harm has already occurred. This creates safer environments and reduces the impact on individuals and communities.

Proportionality

Proportionality means responding to safeguarding issues in ways that are appropriate to the level of risk involved. Actions should be the least intrusive necessary to protect the person, while still being effective.

If the risk is very low, heavy-handed measures may cause more harm than help. Conversely, if a serious danger is present, urgent and decisive action will be required. Proportionality balances the need to protect with the need to respect a person’s rights and freedoms.

For example, if a neighbour hears shouting in a flat and suspects conflict, they might first raise the concern with the local safeguarding team rather than immediately request police intervention, unless there is immediate danger. This graded approach reflects the proportionality principle.

This principle avoids unnecessary restrictions while still prioritising safety. It is especially important in situations where taking away freedoms can have a big impact on someone’s life.

To apply proportionality, organisations should:

• Assess the seriousness of the risk and act accordingly
• Consider the individual’s views alongside risk factors
• Avoid using more authority than necessary
• Review actions regularly to check if they remain appropriate

Proportionality is a reminder that safeguarding decisions should be balanced, fair, and respectful.

Protection

Protection is the principle of providing support and help to those who are most at risk. It means making sure the right interventions are put in place to keep someone safe from harm.

Protection goes further than prevention. When harm has already happened, or is very likely, protective actions are taken. This can range from securing safe housing, arranging medical care, or involving law enforcement.

For example, if an adult with care needs is being financially exploited by a relative, protection measures might include involving a safeguarding team, freezing suspicious accounts, and offering ongoing support to manage finances safely.

Protection includes:

• Making safeguarding referrals to the appropriate agencies
• Working with emergency services where immediate danger is present
• Offering a place of safety where required
• Providing emotional and psychological support after an incident

This principle addresses situations directly, removing the immediate threats while also planning for ongoing safety. People receiving protection should feel supported and reassured that someone is actively working on their behalf.

Partnership

Partnership means that safeguarding is most effective when organisations, communities, and agencies work together. This includes police, health services, social care, schools, voluntary groups, and the public.

When people work in partnership, they share information appropriately, coordinate responses, and make sure no aspect of a person’s safety is overlooked. It also means involving the community, as local knowledge and networks can help keep people safe.

Partnership is not just between formal organisations. Family members, friends, and neighbours can play an essential role. For example, a GP may notice a patient showing signs of neglect and, by contacting social services, begin a joined-up response involving a district nurse and a housing officer.

Principles of partnership in safeguarding include:

• Sharing information lawfully and responsibly
• Coordinating plans so everyone understands their role
• Listening to input from the person at risk and their trusted contacts
• Building relationships between agencies to reduce delays

Partnership ensures that safeguarding actions are thorough and joined up. This often leads to quicker interventions and better support for the person at risk.

Accountability

Accountability means being open and clear about safeguarding decisions and why they are made. Everyone involved should understand their responsibilities and be able to explain their actions.

This principle requires organisations and professionals to show that their safeguarding duties are being met. It helps maintain trust between individuals, the community, and safeguarding bodies.

For example, if a care team decides to move an elderly resident to a new facility for safety reasons, they should record the decision, the information used to make it, and share this in a way the individual can understand. This transparency enables scrutiny and ensures the person’s view is considered.

Accountability involves:

• Keeping proper records of concerns, actions, and outcomes
• Providing reasons for decisions in a clear and respectful way
• Allowing decisions to be questioned through complaints or appeals
• Checking that safeguarding practice meets expected standards

By following this principle, safeguarding becomes more transparent. People can see the reasoning behind actions, which helps maintain trust and public confidence.

Final Thoughts

The six principles of safeguarding form a framework that guides the way people and organisations protect those at risk of harm. Empowerment ensures people have a voice. Prevention stops harm before it begins. Proportionality ensures actions match the level of risk. Protection responds directly to threats. Partnership brings together organisations and communities. Accountability keeps safeguarding open and honest.

When applied properly, these principles create safer environments and stronger trust between individuals and those responsible for safeguarding. They encourage professionals to act respectfully, thoughtfully, and in a way that places the person at the centre of decisions. Together, they help form a safeguarding system that is effective, humane, and responsive to real-world needs.