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Safeguarding

Safeguarding is about protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of individuals, which allow people to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. It is fundamental to high-quality health and social care. (Care Quality Commission, 2017, Safeguarding people). Use this guide to find information resources about safeguarding adults, children, and those with learning disabilities. In this guide you’ll find books, guidelines, and journal articles.

Last updated: 19/02/2021

Key Resources

Publication Cover Royal College of Nursing (2018) Adult safeguarding: roles and competencies for health care staff. London: RCN.
Guidance cover Royal College of Nursing (2020) Female genital mutilation. RCN guidance for sexual health care. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2020) Anonymous registration on the electoral register in the UK. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2020) Guidance for nurses and midwives to support those affected by domestic abuse. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing: First steps for healthcare assistants: principles of safeguarding.
Guide cover Royal College of Nursing (2020) Modern slavery and trafficking: guidance for nurses and midwives. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2019) Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for healthcare staff, London: RCN. Royal College of Nursing (2019) Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for healthcare staff. London: RCN.
Care Inspectorate (2020) Adult support and protection.
Care Quality Commission (2019) Safeguarding people. Newcastle: CQC.
Department of Health and Social Care (2020) Liberty protection safeguards factsheets. London: DHSC.
Health and Social Care Board - Adult safeguarding operational procedures Health and Social Care Board: Northern Ireland Adult Safeguarding Partnership (2016) Adult safeguarding operational procedures. Belfast: RQIA
NHS Wales Governance e-Manual (2017) Standard 11: safeguarding children and safeguarding vulnerable adults. Cardiff: NHS Wales. 
  • Please check that guidance is applicable for your country.
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Older People’s Commissioner for Wales (2016) Adult protection and safeguarding. Cardiff: OPCW.
  • Please check that guidance is applicable for your country.
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Parliament (2005) Mental Capacity Act. London: Stationery Office.
RCPCH looked after Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2015) Looked after children: Knowledge, skills and competences of health care staff. London: RCPCH.
Welsh Government (2020) Safeguarding guidance.

Related Links

Domestic Abuse Subject Guide

Books

Barber P et al (2020) Mental health law in England and Wales: a guide for mental health professionals. London: Learning Matters. 
Buka - Care of vulnerable Buka P (2016) Care of vulnerable older people: legal and ethical aspects of nursing. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. 
Burton and Reid - Safeguarding and Protecting Children in the Early Years Burton S and Reid J (2018) Safeguarding and protecting children in the early years. London: Routledge. Taylor & Francis.
Cooper A and White E (2017) Safeguarding adults under the Care Act 2014: understanding good practice, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Cooper A and White E (2017) Safeguarding adults under the Care Act 2014: understanding good practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Book Cover Heslop P and Hebron C (2020) Promoting the health and well-being of people with learning disabilities. Cham: Springer.
Leigh J and Laing J (2018) Thinking about child protection practice: case studies for critical reflection and discussion, Bristol: Policy Press. Leigh J and Laing J (2018) Thinking about child protection practice: case studies for critical reflection and discussion. Bristol: Policy Press.
Lumsden E (2018) Child protection in the early years: a practical guide, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Lumsden E (2018) Child protection in the early years: a practical guide. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Northway - Safeguarding Northway R and Jenkins R (2017) Safeguarding adults in nursing practice (2nd edition). London: Sage.
Phelan - Advances in Elder Abuse Research Phelan A (2020) Advances in elder abuse research: practice, legislation and policy. Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Phelan - International perspectives Phelan A (2013) International perspectives on elder abuse. London: Routledge. 
Spreadbury and Hubbard - Adult Safeguarding practice handbook Spreadbury K and Hubbard R (2020) The adult safeguarding practice handbook. Bristol: Policy Press.
Starns - Safeguarding adults together under the Care Act 2014: a multi-agency practice guide Starns B (2019) Safeguarding adults together under the Care Act 2014: a multi-agency practice guide. St Albans: Critical Publishing.
Thompson - Strengthening child Thompson K (2016) Strengthening child protection: sharing information in multi-agency settings. Bristol: Policy Press. 
Wate and Boulton - Multi-agency safeguarding in a public protection world : a handbook for protecting children and vulnerable adults Second edition. 2019 Wate R and Boulton N (2019) Multi agency safeguarding in a public protection world: a handbook for protecting children and vulnerable adults. Shoreham by Sea: Pavilion.
Watson - Safeguarding and protecting Watson G & Rodwell S (2014) Safeguarding and protecting children, young people and families: a guide for nurses and midwives. London: SAGE. 

Book subject searches

Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.  

This subject guide relates to:

Children and Young People Staying Healthy Forum
RCN Library staff

Janan Nuri

Editor of this guide

RCN Library and Archive Service

Upcoming events relating to this subject guide

  • 15 Jun 2022 Online

    From Community to Hospital and Back Again: A History of Care

    Hear how the history of care for people with learning disabilities has shifted over time, and how community care functions today.  

  • 06 Jul 2022 Online

    A History of Learning Disability and Human Rights

    Find out why we need to understand the history of learning disability to ensure better support for people with learning disabilities today.  

  • 15 Jul 2022 Online

    Adverse Childhood Experiences seminar

    This morning seminar aims to increase awareness of ACE’s and the related trauma and impact, immediate, short term and across a life time, develop skills to recognise ACE’s, and develop your knowledge of support services available. This event is suitable for all members of the nursing team: registered nurses, Health Care Support Workers/ Health Care Assistants, and nursing students working in the NHS or Independent Health & Social Care Sector.  

  • 04 Aug 2022 London

    SOPHIE: The Play

    Join us for a performance of the play SOPHIE by Emily Curtis and Sophie Potter, exploring family life, stigma and Down syndrome.

  • 07 Sep 2022 Online

    Downs: A History

    Find out about the medical and social history of Down Syndrome in an online talk by Professor David Wright.

  • 13 Oct 2022 London

    Hello, my name is... A Conversation with Learning Disability Nurses

    Join us in person or online to hear about the lives and personal experiences of learning disability nurses.

Page last updated - 19/02/2021

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