Safeguarding practice guidance: homelessness
Adults experiencing homelessness, including those sleeping rough, are often exposed to significant risks such as exploitation, abuse, neglect, and serious health inequalities.
In England, safeguarding duties under the Care Act 2014 apply to any adult with care and support needs who is at risk of abuse or neglect and unable to protect themselves. Many people facing homelessness meet this threshold, particularly those with mental health issues, substance misuse, or physical disabilities. Safeguarding Adults Boards play a vital role in promoting multi-agency responses that recognise homelessness as a potential indicator of wider vulnerability, ensuring that individuals receive coordinated support and protection.
Duty to refer
The Homeless Reduction Act (2017) introduced a legal duty on specified public authorities to refer service users who they think may be homeless or "threatened with homelessness within 56 days" to local authority homelessness/housing options teams.
These organisations include:
- criminal justice institutions/services
- Jobcentre Plus
- social services authorities
- members of the regular armed forces
- emergency departments
- urgent treatment centres
- hospitals providing inpatient services
This legal requirement is less well known or understood amongst healthcare staff.
As a result, the South East Clinical Delivery and Networks Team organised a webinar for health care commissioners and providers to remind them of the legal framework, signpost to training material on the e-Learning for Health platform and share practical examples from the Vulnerable Adult Support Team (VAST) at University Hospital Southampton.
