What is a vulnerable adult?

‘Vulnerable adult’ refers to adults (over 18) who have a physical disability, mental illness, learning disability or who, through illness or injury may be in need of assistance, or may be unable protect themselves against significant harm or serious exploitation which may be occasioned by the actions or inactions of other people.

Through the implementation of your club equal opportunities policy it is likely that your club may attract, if not already have, staff and members who are ‘vulnerable adults’. It is therefore important that you develop a vulnerable adult policy so that you are able to involve those staff and members in a safe and inclusive way. Your National Governing Body may already have a policy in place which your club could adopt. As a first step you should contact them to see what policies and documents they may have. If there is nothing in place you could develop your own using a template.

Some National Governing Bodies have a Welfare policy which usually covers both Child Protection and Adult Protection as well as other issues relating to equality. In these cases your club could adopt the welfare policy.

Click here for the English Federation of Disability Sport's Child and Vulnerable People's Protection Policy.