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Safeguarding Adults Legislation in Northern Ireland

Find out more about the latest Safeguarding Adults legislation in Northern Ireland here.

• Action on Elder Abuse (AEA)

  Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) is a charity working exclusively to safeguard and protect older people from all forms of abuse. They raise awareness about the types of abuse and harm older people are more likely to experience; provide direct advice, guidance and support to older people at risk of abuse or in need of protection; engage with older people, practitioners and policy makes to improve prevention and protection by organising conferences, seminars and policy briefings, and campaign for the best possible support and prevention frameworks.

• The Mental Capacity Act 2016

  The Mental Capacity Act 2016 aims to protect the rights and safety of people who lack capacity because of a mental health illness or severe mental impairment. The Act promotes people’s autonomy and decision-making capacity, by introducing a mental capacity test with a ‘presumption of capacity’ applied until proven otherwise.

• The Sexual Offences Order 2008

  The Sexual Offences Order 2008 constitutes a legislative framework for sexual offences, including offences against people with a mental disorder.

• Adult Safeguarding Operational Procedures: Adults at Risk of Harm and Adults in Need of Protection 2016

  Adult Safeguarding Operational Procedures 2016 set out broad principles of good practice when responding to adults who are in need of protection. They place the adult at the centre of the safeguarding process and provide practical guidance on how specific roles within organisations should be implemented.

• The Criminal Law Act 1976

  The Criminal Law Act 1976 establishes an obligation on citizens to provide the police with any information they may have which is likely to assist in arresting, prosecution or conviction of a perpetrator of a serious criminal offence.

• Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Practice in Partnership 2015

  Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Practice in Partnership 2015 constitutes a policy of practices that need to be followed to support effective and robust adult safeguarding practices. It highlights the importance of ensuring that adults that have experienced abuse are provided access to support, and aims to reduce incidences of harm, abuse and exploitation of adults at risk by raising awareness of effective adult safeguarding practices and policy, including responses to suspected and reported abuse.

• Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland (COPNI)

  The Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland provides information and guidance centred on safeguarding and protecting older adults, and also gives information about the types of abuse and appropriate responses.

• Health and Personal Social Services Order 1972 and Health and Social Care (Reform) Act 2009

  Article 37 of the Health and Personal Social Services Order 1972 supports adults in need of care and attention to access support. The adult must be suffering from grave or chronic disease; elderly, inform or physically incapacitated; living in unsanitary conditions, and unable to look after themselves or pay for appropriate care.

  Read more about the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 here.

• Mental Health Order 1986

  Article 121 of the Mental Health Order 1986 criminalises the ill treatment or willful neglect of a person in a hospital or nursing home who is receiving treatment for a mental disorder such as dementia, whilst Article 129 enables the adult who is being subjected to mistreatment to be removed from a premises.

• Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) – Standards of Code of Conduct for Social Care Workers

  NISCC is the regulatory body for the social care workforce across Northern Ireland, it maintains professional standards and guidance. Its Standards of Code of Conduct for Social Care Workers provides advice and guidance on professional practice for social care workers.

• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Order 2008 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012)

  The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Order 2008 prevents unsuitable people working with children, young people and adults at risk by ensuring any organisation working with vulnerable people has an appropriate safeguarding policy in place and clearly-defined procedures to protect vulnerable children and adults and ensure there effective record keeping systems in place.

• The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)

  The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) offer information relevant to safeguarding adults. They offer advice and guidance across a wide range of topics.