A “child” is anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is in further education does not change their status or entitlements to services or protection.
An "adult with care and support needs" or “adult at risk” – to whom safeguarding duties apply – is a person aged 18 or over who:
- has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs); • is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
- as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.
A “safeguarding allegation relating to a child” is an allegation that a person has:
- behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
- possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
- behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children.