This guide will help you answer 1.5 Describe how and when to engage others in relation to responding to safeguarding concerns.
You need to involve the right people when responding to safeguarding concerns. Engaging others means identifying who should be part of the response, talking with them at the right times, and using their knowledge and skills. This ensures that concerns are dealt with safely, legally, and in line with best practice.
Safeguarding means protecting adults from abuse or neglect. If abuse is suspected or confirmed, you cannot deal with it alone, even as a manager. The responsibility for keeping people safe is shared.
Recognising When to Involve Others
You must know the situations where you cannot or should not act by yourself. Even if you have experience, there are limits to what you can do. If you try to manage concerns alone, you might miss important details or make errors in judgement. Engaging others helps make the process safer and clearer.
Key times to involve others:
- When you first become aware of potential abuse or neglect
- When making decisions about what action to take
- When gathering more information or evidence
- When supporting the person who may be at risk
- After making a report, to assist in safeguarding plans
- If the concern involves complex needs or risks
- If there is an immediate danger to someone
Everyone has a responsibility to pass on concerns about abuse or neglect, following your organisation’s safeguarding policy and local procedures. In England, check the current Care and support statutory guidance (chapter 14, safeguarding).
Who You Should Engage
You must know who to engage. Choosing the wrong people may breach confidentiality or slow down responses.
Common people and groups to involve are:
- Safeguarding lead within your organisation
- Senior managers
- Designated safeguarding officers
- Social workers (from the local authority)
- Police (in cases of crime or immediate danger)
- Health professionals (GP, mental health team, community nurse)
- CQC (Care Quality Commission): registered services in England must notify it of abuse or allegations of abuse (see regulation 18)
- Families or next of kin, if appropriate and safe
- Advocacy services, helping people to have a voice
Think about the level of risk, the setting, and your own legal duties. For example, if you work in a supported living service, you may follow a slightly different pathway than someone in a care home. Always follow your own organisation’s policy and any relevant local authority guidance.
Local Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB)
In England, each local authority sets up a Safeguarding Adults Board, which brings together partners such as the local authority, the NHS and the police to coordinate local safeguarding work. The local authority is responsible for deciding what enquiries are needed under section 42 of the Care Act. See section 43 and section 42 on legislation.gov.uk.
Follow your organisation’s safeguarding policy and your local Safeguarding Adults Board procedures when reporting a concern. If unsure, ask your safeguarding lead or the local authority safeguarding team. See chapter 14 of the Care and support statutory guidance.
Confidentiality and Consent
When engaging others, keep information confidential. Only share what is needed. Do not discuss details widely.
Ask the person at risk for their consent to share. But, if there is immediate risk, a crime, or a legal duty, you might have to share information without consent. Good practice is to:
- Explain your actions to the person involved
- Share only with those who need to know
- Record what was shared, with whom, and why
The Role of the Safeguarding Lead
Your organisation’s safeguarding policy should make clear who your safeguarding lead is, in line with regulation 13 (systems to prevent and investigate abuse, England). This person guides staff through next steps, records details, and contacts external agencies if needed.
As a manager or leader, you must know who your safeguarding lead is, or be prepared to act in their place if needed.
Multidisciplinary Working
Multidisciplinary means working with staff from different professional backgrounds. Abuse or neglect is complex and may involve health, mental health, substance misuse, and other needs. Sharing information and skills across different services gives a clearer picture and helps keep people safe.
Benefits include:
- Joined-up support plans
- Access to specialist skills
- Better risk assessment
You may need to attend safeguarding meetings, case reviews, or strategy discussions. Share your knowledge, ask questions, and record decisions.
Duty of Candour
Registered providers in England have a legal duty of candour (regulation 20): they must be open and honest with people when certain unintended or unexpected incidents in care or treatment cause harm. Check the current CQC guidance on the duty of candour. This means being open with the person at risk and their relatives or advocates. It involves explaining what happened and supporting recovery.
When safeguarding concerns are raised, you may need to inform and support the person or their family. Do this with care and keep records of your conversations.
When to Contact the Police
If you think a crime has been committed, involve the police at once. For example, if someone is at risk of physical harm, if money has been stolen, or if there is sexual abuse. Sometimes, you might not be sure. If in doubt, ask your safeguarding lead for advice.
Using Advocacy Services
Some adults at risk may not be able to speak up for themselves. An advocate is an independent person who helps them have a say in decisions. For some significant decisions about people who lack capacity and have no appropriate family or friends to consult, the NHS or local authority must arrange an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) in England and Wales. See the Mental Capacity Act 2005, section 37 and ask your safeguarding lead or the local authority.
In England, the local authority must arrange an independent advocate under the Care Act in certain situations where a person has substantial difficulty in being involved and has no appropriate person to support them. See section 67 of the Care Act 2014.
The Role of the CQC
If you manage a CQC-registered service, you must notify the CQC about safeguarding concerns. The CQC checks that organisations are reporting and responding to abuse correctly. Failing to tell them can lead to serious consequences for your service.
Timescales for Engagement
How quickly you engage others depends on risk.
- If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 for the police or emergency services.
- For concerns that are not an emergency, report them promptly, following your organisation’s policy and your local safeguarding procedures.
Always check your local policy. Record times, actions, and judgements.
Providing Support to Staff
Your team may feel anxious or upset when dealing with safeguarding. Staff need a leader who keeps them informed and supported. You should:
- Offer advice and supervision
- Debrief staff after difficult cases
- Arrange training
- Offer access to counselling, where needed
Remember, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, but staff depend on you for guidance.
Recording and Evidence
Keep accurate records of all concerns, decisions, and who you involved. This includes:
- Date and time of concern/risk
- What happened and who was affected
- Who you spoke to and when
- What information was shared
- What decisions were made, by whom, and why
Good records help protect people from harm and support your decisions later if challenged.
Training and Development
You must keep your own and your staff’s knowledge up to date. This includes:
- Attending safeguarding training as required
- Learning about changes in law or local policy
- Practising scenarios and case studies
People who feel confident in their knowledge are more likely to engage correctly and at the right times.
Learning from Safeguarding Reviews
In England, when an adult dies, or experiences serious abuse or neglect, and there is concern about how agencies worked together to protect them, the Safeguarding Adults Board must arrange a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR). See section 44 of the Care Act 2014. These aim to review practice, learn lessons, and improve services. As a manager, read the findings of these reviews and use them to guide your own work.
You may be asked to contribute to these reviews, providing information about steps taken, staff involved, or the outcomes achieved.
Family and Friends: When to Engage Them
Involving families, next of kin, or friends can be helpful for spotting risks and making decisions. But talk to the adult at risk first. Some may not want their family involved, or it may not be safe.
If you gain consent, share information openly and honestly. Record the reasons for involving families. In cases where a person lacks mental capacity, consult with their legal representatives or best interest decision makers.
Addressing Barriers to Engagement
Sometimes staff are afraid to report concerns, or do not know how. This can delay response and put people at risk. Encourage a culture where raising safeguarding concerns is welcomed, not punished.
Common barriers:
- Fear of making a mistake
- Worry about confidentiality
- Not understanding procedures
- Concern about blame
Address these through training, team meetings, and regular updates to policy.
Final Thoughts
Engaging others in safeguarding is not just a formality. It is good practice, forms part of your organisation’s safeguarding duties, and helps keep adults safe from harm. In England, check the current statutory guidance and your organisation’s policy. You must know when, how, and who to involve—acting promptly and recording your steps. Share information safely, protect confidentiality, and support your team. Stay alert, know your local process, and always put the person at risk at the centre of your actions. By following these standards, you make real improvements to the lives of people you care for.