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 higher/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.