(1)An “adult at risk”, for the purposes of this Part, is an adult who—
(a)is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect,
(b)has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs), and
(c)as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.
(2)If a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that a person within its area (whether or not ordinarily resident there) is an adult at risk, it must—
(a)make (or cause to be made) whatever enquiries it thinks necessary to enable it to decide whether any action should be taken (whether under this Act or otherwise) and, if so, what and by whom, and
(b)decide whether any such action should be taken.
(3)Regulations made under section 54(5) (care and support plans) must include provision about recording in a care and support plan the conclusions of enquiries made under this section.