Recurring concern
Failure to recognise vulnerability in safeguarding decisions
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Request correctionFirst reported 1 Oct 2013•Latest report 30 May 2024
What this concern includes
Includes failures in safeguarding, police or comparable protective decision-making to recognise, assess or act on a person's vulnerability, including treating capacity as negating vulnerability or misclassifying a vulnerable person despite relevant indicators.
Not included
- Excludes generic safeguarding failures where recognition or assessment of vulnerability is not the deficient control.
- Excludes mental-capacity assessment or best-interests failures where vulnerability recognition is not materially involved.
- Excludes failures concerning a separately named hazard, statutory pathway or specialist risk-assessment system when that system provides the more specific supported boundary.
- Excludes general service-access, communication or support failures where vulnerability was recognised and the deficiency arose at a later stage.
- Reports
- 10
- Individual concerns
- 10
- Date range
- 2013–2024
- Stated actions
- 24
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to assess additional risks to vulnerable parents in safeguarding referrals concerning their children
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Add guidance to the MASH practice note and Standard Operating Procedure to identify vulnerable adults in safeguarding referrals concerning children.
Stated by Suffolk County Council -
Action
Implement prompts across children’s and adults’ multi-agency referral forms to identify and route related concerns about adults or children.
Stated by Suffolk County Council
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Concerns raised1
Failure to distinguish mental capacity from vulnerability in safeguarding decisions
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Develop an Emergency Department safeguarding supervision programme for adult patients, supported by the Trust Safeguarding Team.
Stated by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Ensure relevant staff attend mandated safeguarding training at the appropriate level and review attendance through governance meetings.
Stated by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
A capacitous adult’s liberty and choice limited the Trust’s ability to intervene despite risky behaviours or an unsafe lifestyle.
Stated by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to recognise sexual exploitation and vulnerability among homeless LGBTQIA young people
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Work with the adult safeguarding board to embed tiered risk assessment in team practice and train staff to recognise sexuality-based discrimination as potential abuse.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and Tameside Borough Council -
Action
Fund sector training and resources on safeguarding and safe service delivery for night shelters.
Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government -
Action
Work with Homeless Link to develop training covering safeguarding support for people whose protected characteristics, particularly sexuality, increase vulnerability.
Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Action
Share NICE homelessness guidance across housing, homelessness and health sectors to promote person-centred, trauma-informed support.
Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will provide further context on exploitation risks affecting vulnerable homeless young people.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Failure to assess missing-person vulnerability without relying on assumptions about addiction
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Update Missing Persons APP to warn against imprecise, value-laden terminology and require clear descriptions relevant to risk assessment.
Stated by College of Policing -
Action
Publish Evidence Based Guidelines on vulnerability-related risk assessment, including gathering information from multiple sources to inform professional risk judgements.
Stated by College of Policing
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Concerns raised1
Failure to consider safeguarding referral and assessment for vulnerable adults with serious mental disorder
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to assess known vulnerability when issuing CAWNs
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Release updated Child Abduction Warning Notice guidance requiring vulnerability risk assessment, links to suicide-prevention guidance, and clear explanation of events to recipients.
Stated by College of Policing -
Action
Strengthen PACE Code C to require proactive identification and recording of vulnerability factors and sharing those records with personnel communicating with the individual.
Stated by Home Office -
Action
Require pre-service vulnerability risk assessments, documenting the rationale and potential impact on the suspect in Child Abduction Warning Notice records.
Stated by Greater Manchester Police
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Operational and procedural concerns about police practice are for the police to address.
Stated by Home Office
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Concerns raised1
Failure to classify people presenting indicators of vulnerability as vulnerable persons rather than absconding suspects
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
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Action
Finalize a vulnerability strategy incorporating nationally recognized effective practice.
Stated by West Mercia Police -
Action
Roll out the piloted “see beyond the obvious” vulnerability programme across West Mercia in 2017.
Stated by West Mercia Police -
Action
Maintain an organisation-wide programme developing officers and staff to identify and manage vulnerability and protect people from harm.
Stated by West Mercia Police
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Action
Introduce the THRIVE model across the force to support information gathering, risk assessment and public protection decisions.
Stated by West Mercia Police -
Action
Provide vulnerability-related training, online learning and knowledge checks across public-protection disciplines.
Stated by West Mercia Police
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Existing vulnerability training and improvements with NPAS are considered sufficient; the force has done all it can to prevent recurrence.
Stated by West Mercia Police
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Concerns raised1
Failure to safeguard an injured or intoxicated vulnerable person before police departure
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Complete wider vulnerability work incorporating lessons learned from this case.
Stated by Ian Hopkins QPM., MBA
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
Specific waiting times cannot be formalised because circumstances vary and fixed timescales would be impractical.
Stated by Ian Hopkins QPM., MBA
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Position
The National Decision Making Model is considered sufficient for officers to assess risks and decide whether to remain at a scene.
Stated by Ian Hopkins QPM., MBA
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Concerns raised1
Failure to recognise vulnerable residents
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The Approved Premises had protocols for monitoring vulnerable residents, including ACCT assessments and additional checks where required.
Stated by National Offender Management Service Directorate of Probation
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Concerns raised1
Failure to recognise vulnerable consumers
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
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Action
Issue guidance to non-domestic suppliers on good practice for debt management and disconnection, including shared occupancy and vulnerable customers.
Stated by Ofgem -
Action
Amend and publish the Safety Net to protect vulnerable domestic consumers using non-domestic supplies from uncontrolled disconnection.
Stated by Energy UK -
Action
Keep the Safety Net’s operation, including its new protections, under constant review through independent audits of suppliers’ systems and processes.
Stated by Energy UK
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Action
Add mandatory vulnerability and shared-supply checks, standardize recording through a checklist, and investigate reported risks before disconnection.
Stated by RWE npower Group plc -
Action
Brief internal and external debt-collection agencies on amended shared-supply and vulnerability procedures, with further written guidance and annual repetition.
Stated by RWE npower Group plc
Data last updated 7 September 2026