The Wales Safeguarding Procedures

The Wales Safeguarding Procedures for children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect

These are the national Wales Safeguarding Procedures. They detail the essential roles and responsibilities for practitioners to ensure that they safeguard children and adults who are at risk of abuse and neglect.

Legislation and guidance

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 came into force on 6 April 2016. The Act provides the legal framework for improving the well-being of people who need care and support. The Act is made up of 11 Parts with Part 7 relating to Safeguarding specifically. It is this legislation that provides the framework for the Wales Safeguarding Procedures.

Accompanying the Act, the Welsh Government has published statutory safeguarding guidance Working Together to Safeguard People.

The Wales Safeguarding Procedures have been designed to enable frontline practitioners and their managers apply the legislative requirements and expectations of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The aim is to improve person-centred outcomes for adults at risk of abuse and neglect and children at risk. The procedures also recognise other relevant legislation, guidance and protocols. For example, the Domestic Abuse (Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015.

 For more information visit https://safeguarding.wales