Choice Is at the heart of Making Safeguarding Personal.
Yet understanding what “choice” really means can sometimes be more complex than it first appears.
When we talk about choice, we are not simply talking about selecting from a list of options.
Meaningful choice exists when people:
- Have access to relevant information.
- Understand the benefits and risks of different options.
- Feel able to express what matters to them.
- Are involved in decisions that affect their lives.
- Feel respected and listened to throughout the process.
People cannot exercise meaningful choice if they do not feel their voice is being heard. Likewise, simply asking someone what they want is not enough if they do not have the support, confidence, or information necessary to make an informed decision.
Choice Supports Prevention
The Care Act 2014 places prevention at the centre of safeguarding.
When people are involved in decisions about their own lives and safety, they mat be more likely to engage with support, trust professionals, and remain involved in safeguarding processes. By prioritising voice and choice, safeguarding becomes more preventative because it focuses on understanding what matters to people before concerns escalate into crises.
A person who feels listened to is often more likely to seek help early. But a person who feels ignored may disengage altogether.
Co-Production Means Sharing Power
True co-production means moving beyond consultation and creating opportunities for people with lived experience to influence decisions, services and safeguarding responses.
This requires organisations to ask:
“Are we making decisions for people, or with them?”
When people are genuinely involved in shaping decisions, voice and choice become realities in practice, rather than mere words on paper.
The Right to Make Unwise Decisions
One of the most important safeguarding principles is recognising that people have the right to make decisions that others may disagree with.
The question should not always be:
“Is this the choice I would make?”
Instead, safeguarding practitioners might ask:
“Has this person’s voice been heard, and have they been supported to make their own informed choice?”
Choice in Adult Safeguarding – Key Principles We Should All Consider
- Are we truly hearing every voice?
- Are we creating opportunities for every choice?
There’s more to meaningful safeguarding than protecting people from harm. It’s just as important to work with people to understand what matters to them. We must consider what outcomes they want, and what makes them feel safe.
Ultimately, safeguarding is most effective when people are active partners in shaping the culture, rather than passive recipients of support. Effective safeguarding starts with listening, and listening is how we ensure every voice and every choice truly matters.