Everyone has the right to feel safe and be treated with dignity and respect. Safeguarding is about protecting adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation while supporting them to remain independent and in control of their lives.
Our approach is guided by the Care Act 2014 and the principles of Making Safeguarding Personal ensuring people are listened to, involved in decisions and supported to achieve the outcomes that matter to them.
During the year, we worked closely with health services, the police, care providers and community organisations to identify risks, respond to concerns and help people stay safe.
We received 1,137 safeguarding concerns during 2025/26. A safeguarding concern is raised when someone believes an adult may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Where concerns suggest a person has care and support needs and may be experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, we may carry out a Section 42 enquiry. This is a formal safeguarding enquiry under the Care Act 2014, designed to understand what has happened, assess risks and agree what action is needed to help keep the person safe.
The table shows the number of safeguarding concerns and Section 42(2) enquiries recorded between 2022/23 and 2024/25.
| Year | Safeguarding concerns | Section 42(2) enquiries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 1,159 | 299 |
| 2023/24 | 1,180 | 393 |
| 2024/25 | 1,034 | 347 |
The chart shows safeguarding activity over the last three years. While the number of concerns raised has varied, the number of Section 42 enquiries has increased significantly compared with previous years. This suggests that concerns are being identified and assessed more effectively, ensuring people receive the right level of safeguarding support when they need it.
During 2025/26, 504 Section 42 enquiries were started and 513 completed, the highest number recorded in recent years.
Safeguarding is about more than responding to concerns. It is about helping people stay safe, maintain their independence and have greater control over decisions affecting their lives.
During the year, people were supported to identify what mattered most to them, take part in safeguarding decisions and access the help they needed. Independent advocacy services also helped ensure people's wishes and views were heard, particularly when they faced complex decisions about their care and support.