Safeguarding

Safeguarding (pronunciation: /ˈseɪfˌɡɑːrdɪŋ/) is a term used in healthcare and social care contexts to refer to measures taken to protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals, which allow people — especially children, young people and vulnerable adults — to live free from abuse, harm and neglect.

Etymology

The term 'safeguarding' is derived from the combination of the words 'safe' and 'guard'. 'Safe' originates from the Old English 'sæf', meaning free from harm, and 'guard' comes from the Old French 'garde', meaning to protect or defend.

Related Terms

Child Protection: A subset of safeguarding, child protection refers to the protection of children specifically, often from abuse and neglect.
Vulnerable Adult: A person who is 18 years of age or over, and who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.
Abuse: A form of maltreatment of a child or vulnerable adult. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child or vulnerable adult by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm.
Neglect: A form of abuse where the perpetrator, who is responsible for caring for someone who is unable to care for themselves, fails to do so. It can be a result of carelessness, indifference, or intentional and deliberate withholding of care.