What are care and support needs?
Safeguarding adults is about stopping or preventing abuse or neglect of adults with care and support needs.
Adults with care and support needs are people aged 18 or over who need support because of:
- a physical disability
- a learning disability
- sensory impairment (for example sight or hearing loss)
- mental ill health
- autism
- illness
- older adults who may be experiencing frailty, illness or disability
Under the Care Act 2014, safeguarding duties apply where an adult:
- has care and support needs
- is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect
- and is unable to protect themselves because of those needs
Abuse and neglect can include:
- physical abuse
- domestic abuse
- sexual abuse
- psychological or emotional abuse
- financial abuse
- discriminatory abuse
- organisational abuse
- neglect and acts of omission
- self-neglect
- modern slavery
These categories are widely recognised within safeguarding guidance:
Report your concern
If you are worried that an adult with care and support needs may be experiencing abuse or neglect, you do not need proof.
If in doubt, report your concern so that it can be considered by the appropriate service.
Birmingham Adults Safeguarding Board
The Birmingham Adults Safeguarding Board site contains extensive up-to-date resources and advises users to access current online versions rather than downloaded copies.
More information about safeguarding adults can be found on the BSAB website. Some useful pages can be found below:
- Public safeguarding information
- Types of abuse
- Self-neglect guidance
- Professional safeguarding procedures
Our Corporate Safeguarding Policy.
Page last updated: 14 July 2026
