Health Services: Vulnerable Adults
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's document entitled Care and support statutory guidance, updated on 22 July 2025, when he plans to update the section on adult safeguarding.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
The new national adult safeguarding board, chaired by the Chief Social Worker, met for the first time on 16 June 2026. The board will meet quarterly. This represents an important step towards strengthening national oversight of local safeguarding adults boards. We will publish information regarding the new board on the GOV.UK website shortly, including a summary of meeting minutes.
Work is commencing immediately to update the Care Act statutory guidance on adult safeguarding. Under section 78(2) of the Care Act 2014, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, must consult before issuing statutory guidance, and the Department will work with the sector over the coming months to take this consultation forward.
The board will oversee an urgent review of the adult safeguarding legal framework.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →