Definition of safeguarding

Safeguarding adults means:

taking actions to prevent, identify, and respond to situations where a person is at risk of, or is experiencing, violence, abuse, neglect or harm
while protecting a person’s right to make their own decisions about their life, safety and wellbeing.

[Source: Disability Support Services (DSS)]

What safeguarding adults means in Aotearoa New Zealand

Disability Support Services (DSS) has provided the definition above and notes that:

Disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori are much more likely to experience violence and abuse or neglect than other New Zealanders. 
Safeguarding adults’ approaches are particularly important for disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori who are:
- at risk of or experiencing harm, violence, abuse and neglect and not able to remove themselves from a risk of serious harm and keep themselves safe
- not having human rights upheld.

Safeguarding adults is grounded in:

DSS further notes that: “Safeguarding approaches for disabled people includes a twin-track response, where we are collectively developing: 

Mainstream family violence, sexual violence, and disability services so they are accessible and responsive for disabled people
Specialist disability-specific responses.”

References:

In Safeguarding: What is it VisAble describes what to expect from safeguarding / whakahaumarutia.

The content is also available in EasyRead formats.

‘Safeguarding: What is it’ has been designed for:

disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori, their families and whānau
specialist safeguarding providers to share with the people they support, and also for induction with new staff / kaimahi
new safeguarding providers, who are building their capability
other professionals and practitioners who are providing safeguarding support