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Definitions FAQs

What is the definition of a Vulnerable Adult?

A vulnerable adult is a person who is aged 18 years or older and:

  • is living in residential accommodation, such as a care home or a residential special school;
  • is living in sheltered housing;
  • is receiving domiciliary care in his or her own home;
  • is receiving any form of health care;
  • is detained in a prison, remand centre, young offender institution, secure training centre or attendance centre or under the powers of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
  • is in contact with probation services;
  • is receiving a welfare service of a description to be prescribed in regulations;
  • is receiving a service or participating in an activity which is specifically targeted at people with age-related needs, disabilities or prescribed physical or mental health conditions. (age-related needs includes needs associated with frailty, illness, disability or mental capacity) 
  • is an expectant or nursing mothers living in residential care
  • is receiving direct payments from a local authority/HSS body in lieu of social care services;
  • requires assistance in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

What is regulated activity?

Regulated activity is defined as:

  • Activity involving contact with children or vulnerable adults and is of a specified nature (e.g. teaching, training, care, supervision, advice, medical treatment or in certain circumstances transport) on a frequent, intensive and/or overnight basis;
  • Activity involving contact with children or vulnerable adults in a specified place (e.g. schools, care homes etc), frequently or intensively;
  • Fostering and childcare;
  • Certain specified positions of responsibility (e.g. school governor, director of children's services, director of adult social services, trustees of certain charities)

These positions are set out in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

What is controlled activity?

Controlled activity, which is much more limited in scope, affecting around 500,000 people, is defined as covering the work of:

  • ancillary support workers in FE, NHS and adult social care (e.g. cleaner, caretaker, catering staff, receptionist) which is done frequently and gives the opportunity for contact with children or vulnerable adults
  • people working frequently for specified organisations (e.g. local authorities in the exercise of its education or social services functions) in roles which give them the opportunity for access to sensitive records about children or vulnerable adults
  • barred people can sometimes be employed in controlled activity, providing tough safeguards are in place, such as stringent supervision
  • a person barred as a result of a relevant autobar caution or conviction will not be able to work or volunteer in controlled activity in Wales

What is frequently and intensively?

Frequently is currently defined as 'once a week' except for health and social care services which involves personal care when it is 'once a month'

Intensively as '4 or more days over any 30 day period'

NB. while responses to consultation suggested that the balance is about right on when an activity is frequent or intensive, Ministers have asked Sir Roger Singleton, ISA Chairman and the governments chief adviser on the safety of children, to check that the government drew the line in the right place.

Sir Roger is due to report to ministers

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