Safeguarding Adults in Care Training : Why Awareness and Training Matter

Safeguarding adults is not just a legal obligation, it’s a fundamental part of providing care and support. It means protecting an individual’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. Whether you work in a care home, supported living, domiciliary care, or a hospital setting, you have a duty to safeguard the people in your care.

At Shreeji Training, we believe every care worker should feel confident in recognising the signs of abuse, knowing how to respond, and understanding how to raise concerns appropriately. Our safeguarding adults in care training is designed to meet the real needs of care staff, managers, and support workers by making sure they know what to do—and when to do it.

What is Safeguarding Adults?

Safeguarding adults is about protecting people aged 18 and over who may be at risk due to their age, disability, mental health condition, illness, or other vulnerability. These individuals may not be able to protect themselves from harm or may rely on others for care and support.

The Care Act 2014 defines safeguarding as “protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.” It outlines duties for local authorities and providers to help prevent harm and promote well-being.

Who Needs Safeguarding?

Safeguarding applies to adults who:

• Have care and support needs (whether those needs are being met or not)
  
• Are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect
  
• Cannot protect themselves from that risk due to their needs
  

This can include:

• Older adults with dementia
  
• People with learning disabilities or autism
  
• Adults with mental health difficulties
  
• People living with long-term illnesses or sensory impairments
  

But safeguarding is not limited to these groups. Anyone receiving care or support can become vulnerable in the wrong circumstances.

What Types of Abuse Might Adults Face?

It’s important to understand that abuse isn’t always physical. Some signs are subtle or hidden. Some may go unnoticed without proper training and attention to detail.

Types of abuse include:

• Physical abuse – hitting, slapping, rough handling
  
• Emotional or psychological abuse – threats, intimidation, humiliation
  
• Sexual abuse – unwanted touching, sexual assault
  
• Financial abuse – theft, misuse of money, pressure to change wills
  
• Neglect – failing to provide basic care or assistance
  
• Organisational abuse – poor care practices within a service
  
• Self-neglect – when someone is unable to care for themselves
  
• Discriminatory abuse – unfair treatment based on race, gender, disability, etc.
  
• Domestic abuse – abuse by a partner or family member
  

Good safeguarding adults in care training helps staff spot early warning signs and understand how different types of abuse can present themselves.

What Are Your Responsibilities?

If you work in health and social care, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. You don’t have to be 100% sure that abuse is happening—you just need to raise the concern with the right person.

Your responsibilities include:

• Recognising possible signs of abuse or neglect
  
• Recording what you’ve seen, heard or been told (factually, not opinion-based)
  
• Reporting it to your line manager or safeguarding lead
  
• Understanding your workplace’s safeguarding policy
  
• Knowing when to escalate to the local safeguarding board or CQC if necessary
  

What you shouldn’t do is ignore concerns, investigate things yourself, or confront the alleged abuser directly.

How Training Makes a Difference

Too often, abuse goes unnoticed—not because staff don’t care, but because they aren’t confident or trained in what to look for.

At Shreeji Training, our Safeguarding Adults in care training course helps staff:

• Understand their legal duties under the Care Act and related guidance
  
• Spot signs of abuse and neglect early
  
• Follow clear reporting and recording procedures
  
• Communicate effectively with the individual involved
  
• Respond appropriately in emergency or disclosure situations
  

We use real-life scenarios, roleplay, and discussion—not just PowerPoints or handouts—so that every learner leaves knowing how safeguarding applies to their job and the people they support.

Real-Life Situations That Require Safeguarding

Training with examples helps bring safeguarding into focus. Here are some common situations we discuss in training:

• A carer notices bruises on an elderly woman’s wrists. When asked, she avoids eye contact and quickly changes the subject.
  
• A support worker hears a colleague speak aggressively to a resident, calling them names and mocking them.
  
• A cleaner finds a service user crying in their room, saying they’re scared to be alone with another staff member.
  
• A resident in a care home seems withdrawn and isn’t eating. They mention they’ve lost money from their account, but don’t want to “cause trouble.”
  

These are all potential safeguarding concerns. Staff need to know when to act, what to record, and how to report—all things we build into our training.

The Role of Managers and Safeguarding Leads

While every staff member plays a part, managers and safeguarding leads have additional responsibilities. They must:

• Investigate concerns appropriately
  
• Liaise with local authorities and safeguarding boards
  
• Review care plans, risk assessments, and staff practices
  
• Promote a culture of openness and safety
  
• Ensure all staff are trained and up to date
  

We also offer advanced safeguarding training for managers, team leaders, and designated safeguarding officers.

The Outcome: Safer Services, Better Care

When staff are trained and confident in safeguarding adults, the impact is huge:

• Service users feel safer, more respected, and more in control
  
• Families feel reassured that their loved ones are being properly supported
  
• Staff know what to do and how to act—reducing anxiety, hesitation, or confusion
  
• Organisations meet legal and regulatory requirements
  

Most importantly, lives can be protected, and suffering can be prevented.

Why Choose Shreeji Training?

We specialise in delivering practical, relevant, and engaging training sessions for care providers of all sizes. Our safeguarding adults in care training courses meet national standards and are suitable for:

• Care homes
  
• Domiciliary care agencies
  
• Supported living providers
  
• NHS and private healthcare teams
  
• Voluntary organisations and charities
  

Whether you’re training new staff or updating experienced teams, we adapt our sessions to your needs and your working environment.

Get In Touch

If you want your staff to feel confident, capable, and compliant when it comes to safeguarding adults, contact Shreeji Training today. We’ll help you build a workforce that puts dignity, respect, and safety first—every time.

In health and social care settings, recording and reporting are essential parts of daily practice. Whether you’re supporting an individual with their care or administering medication, keeping accurate records and sharing the right information with the right people at the right time is not just good practice—it’s a legal and professional requirement.

At Shreeji Training, we understand the real-world challenges care workers face. That’s why we provide practical, straightforward training in recording and reporting that’s built on current standards and rooted in everyday situations care professionals encounter. This blog explores the importance of these responsibilities and how effective training can improve practice, communication, and the quality of care.

What Do We Mean by Recording and Reporting?

Recording is the act of writing down information, usually in care plans, logs, charts, or digital systems. It might include observations about a person’s physical or emotional state, the support you provided, or incidents that occurred.

Reporting means passing on information to others, such as colleagues, supervisors, or other professionals. This could be done verbally or in writing, depending on what’s appropriate for the situation and the setting.

Both tasks are vital for the continuity of care, legal compliance, safeguarding, and professional accountability.

Why Accurate Recording and Reporting Is Crucial

1. Supporting Quality Care

Clear and timely records help all team members understand the needs, preferences, and conditions of the people they support. This ensures consistent care, reduces errors, and helps staff work together effectively.

For example, if one support worker notes that a resident hasn’t eaten properly for two days, that information might help identify a health concern early. Without that record, signs can be missed.

2. Legal and Regulatory Requirements

Health and social care services are regulated by organisations such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England. One of their inspection criteria includes how well providers keep records and share information.

Poor or missing documentation can lead to serious consequences—not just for the care provider, but also for the individuals receiving care. In some cases, incorrect or incomplete records can even lead to safeguarding investigations or legal action.

3. Evidence of Care Provided

Good documentation provides evidence that care was delivered in line with the individual’s care plan and any relevant policies. If complaints or questions arise later, those records serve as a professional defence, showing what actions were taken and why.

4. Safeguarding

Recording and reporting are at the heart of safeguarding. If a worker notices bruises, signs of neglect, or hears something worrying from a service user, they must document it factually and report it to the appropriate person. Failure to do so can leave individuals at serious risk.

What Makes Good Record-Keeping?

At Shreeji Training, we train care workers to follow the “6 Cs” of effective recording:

1. Clear – Use simple, plain English and avoid jargon.

2. Concise – Keep it brief but complete. Include only what’s needed.

3. Correct – Double-check dates, times, names, and facts.

4. Current – Records must be updated as soon as possible after the event.

5. Comprehensive – Include all relevant details (what happened, when, who was involved, what was done).

6. Confidential – Respect data protection rules and only share information with those who need to know.
   

We also emphasise the importance of objective writing. That means sticking to facts rather than opinions. For instance, rather than saying, “Mr. Khan was in a bad mood,” it’s more appropriate to write, “Mr. Khan appeared agitated, raised his voice, and refused breakfast.”

How Reporting Fits In

Reporting is not just about ticking boxes. It’s about communicating effectively within a team or between services. Care staff need to know what to report, when to report, and how to escalate concerns properly.

In our training sessions, we help staff understand:

• When to report incidents immediately (e.g., falls, medication errors, safeguarding issues)

• How to use internal reporting systems

• The difference between everyday updates and critical incident reports

• The role of supervisors and external professionals in the reporting chain

We also discuss barriers to reporting, such as fear of blame, not wanting to “cause trouble”, or uncertainty about what should be reported. Open communication and good training help break down these barriers and support a safer working culture.

Real-World Scenarios We Cover in Training

Our Recording and Reporting course isn’t just theory-based. We use real-life scenarios from the care sector so learners can apply what they’ve learned. These include:

• Noticing and documenting signs of infection

• Reporting changes in mood or behaviour

• Logging food and fluid intake for service users at risk of malnutrition

• Recording medication administration and reporting missed doses

• Handling complaints or allegations

Each scenario helps learners practise writing records that are factual, timely, and appropriate for the situation.

How Training Helps Reduce Mistakes and Improve Practice

Proper training in recording and reporting benefits everyone involved in care delivery. Staff feel more confident in knowing what’s expected, managers have better oversight, and most importantly, service users receive safer and more consistent care.

Training helps reduce:

• Missed or incomplete records
  
• Delays in reporting important issues
  
• Miscommunication between shifts or teams
  Risk of non-compliance with CQC and other bodies
  

At Shreeji Training, we take pride in delivering clear, practical, and relevant courses that make a real difference in everyday care settings.

Conclusion

Recording and reporting are not just “admin tasks”—they are core parts of responsible care. Whether it’s documenting daily routines, responding to incidents, or communicating with colleagues, good record-keeping and reporting protect everyone involved.

Shreeji Training offers tailored Recording and Reporting training sessions for care homes, domiciliary care providers, supported living services, and other healthcare settings. Our courses are designed to meet the needs of your team and the standards expected by regulators.

Want to book a session or learn more about our training options? Get in touch today—because better records mean better care.

To Book a Course:

Phone: 0208 596 5047

Email: marketing@shreetraining.com