Working to safeguard adults is a complex area of practice that requires careful balancing of autonomy, protection and risk. In order to make good, lawful judgements about when and how to intervene, practitioners therefore need to have a comprehensive understanding of how the law applies to safeguarding adults. In this book Alison Brammer brings together the many strands of adult safeguarding to provide a succinct guide to the legal framework. Designed to equip practitioners with the relevant knowledge for practice, it lays out the current legislation and guidance and applies it to different areas of adult safeguarding, including defining 'abuse', assessing capacity and dealing with cases of criminal law. The book goes on to analyse key examples of serious case reviews, including the cases of Steve Hoskin and Michael Gilbert. The text is supported by a range of innovative features and boxed information to aid learning and stimulate reflection: - Key Case Analysis boxes summarize the details of particular legal cases and outline the implications for social work practice - Practice Focus boxes apply legal principles and processes to practice through the use of social work scenarios - On-The-Spot Questions reinforce understanding and encourage critical reflection Alison Brammer is a qualified solicitor with specialist experience working in Social Services, including child protection, adoption, mental health and community care. She coordinates the MA in Adult Safeguarding and the MA in Child Care Law and Practice at Keele University, UK.