Housing staff have a key safeguarding role to play, alongside their colleagues in social care, health and the police, in keeping people safe. They are well placed to identify people with care and support needs, share information and work in partnership to coordinate responses.

This guide aims to raise awareness about safeguarding in the housing sector, at frontline level, for all housing staff, not just those in sheltered or supported housing. It will help them to identify people who may be at risk of abuse and to know how to respond. It also aims to improve communication and joint working between housing and contracted staff and their safeguarding partners, particularly local authority social services staff with safeguarding responsibilities.