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Independence and learning disabilities: why we must also recognise vulnerability
- Author:
- FYSON Rachel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 11(3), August 2009, pp.18-25.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Services for adults with learning disabilities are currently based on the promotion of four key principles: rights, independence, choice and social inclusion. The author argues that these principles are not a sufficient basis for developing balanced services and that there is a need for reappraisal of current approaches and a recognition that the promotion of independence needs to be balanced carefully against the duty of statutory services to ensure that vulnerable adults are adequately protected from abuse. It looks at difficulties including the pressure to promote independence because of potential cost savings, inequality of outcomes for service users and increased vulnerability to abuse, citing studies demonstrating how people with learning disabilities are subject to higher levels of abuse and bullying than other people and recent cases of abuse, and discussing the importance of safeguarding vulnerable adults.
When hate crime is mate crime
- Author:
- GRUDY David
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, November 2009, pp.20-21.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The Association for Real Change has started a three year, Department of Health funded project looking at the exploitation that some people who have a learning disability are subject to when they are befriended by people who go on to take advantage of them - or 'mate crime'. The Safety Net project will develop free tools and resources that can be used nationally to help people make friends and stay safe. This article provides a brief overview of the issues and introduces the aims of the project.
Independence and learning disabilities: why we must also recognise vulnerability
- Author:
- FYSON Rachel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Integrated Care, 17(1), February 2009, pp.3-8.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Services for adults with learning disabilities are currently based on the promotion of four key principles: rights, independence, choice and social inclusion. This paper will argue that, while these principles are welcome, they need to be balanced against a fifth principle - that vulnerable adults must be protected adequately against the risk of abuse. It will draw both on recent high-profile cases of violence and abuse against people with learning disabilities and on research evidence to explore whether current plans to transform adult social care through the use of self-directed support and individual budgets offer a safe future.
Adult protection: incidence of referrals, nature and risk factors in two English local authorities
- Authors:
- MANSELL Jim, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 9(1), January 2009, pp.23-38.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study focused on the incidence of adult protection referrals, the people involved as victims, perpetrators and referrers and the type of abuse in two local authorities in the south-east of England. The number of referrals increased over time; those for older people stabilized but those for younger adults were still rising. There was a clear association between location or setting, perpetrator and type of abuse. A referral about someone living in a care home was more likely to identify abuse by multiple staff and institutional abuse or neglect, especially if the individual was an older person with mental health problems. People with learning disabilities were more likely to experience sexual abuse, mainly from other service users or members of their family. Those living in a private home with others, primarily relatives, tended to be at risk of financial, physical or psychological abuse. Older people living alone were particularly vulnerable to financial abuse by family members or, less frequently, home care workers. This study suggests that well-developed adult protection procedures identify many more cases than previously estimated. Further research is needed to explain the low level of referrals from mental health services and variation between territories.
Safeguarding adults: an independent life after long-term abuse within the family
- Author:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Place of publication:
- London
The film focuses on the personal story of Philip who suffered physical, financial and emotional abuse in the family home for many years. Philip has learning disabilities and cerebral palsy. When Philip finally disclosed the abuse, he was supported to leave the family home. Since then he has gone from strength to strength. He married and, although his wife unfortunately died some years after their marriage, Philip continues to live a full and independent life.
Warning: This film contains strong language. This film has now been reviewed and is now available under the new title: 'Safeguarding adults: an independent life after abuse.'
Say no to abuse: accessible information for people with disabilities
- Authors:
- INSPIRED SERVICES, (Producer)
- Publisher:
- Inspired Services
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- DVD
- Place of publication:
- Newmarket
This DVD provides accessible information for people with learning disabilities about what to do if they experiencing abuse; whether it is sexual, physical, emotional, financial, neglect or discrimination. Presented in animated drawings with an interactive element, the DVD uses precise language to describe what abuse is. It includes real life stories of individuals who have suffered various forms of abuse and how they overcame it. Just over 10 minutes long, the DVD is designed for showing to small groups of people in a facilitated work shop environment.
The ambiguities of professional and societal wisdom
- Authors:
- HUNTER Susan, KENDRICK Michael
- Journal article citation:
- Ethics and Social Welfare, 3(2), July 2009, pp.158-169.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Abingdon
This paper examines the potential limitations of professional wisdom alongside those of society more generally with respect to upholding the well-being of vulnerable and marginalized people. It presents the dangers, referring to four well-documented illustrations of professional failure, that services and service systems pose when both professionals and society at large do not demonstrate sufficient measures of positive values and ethics to ensure the protection of vulnerable people within care systems. While it argues that reform of service systems and the repair of such breaches are always possible, even such system reform may fail if it is not ultimately guided by wisdom not only from professionals but society itself. Several recent international examples of this wisdom are noted. It sees such wisdom as being located in the inherited values and social ethics of a society and the power of these to guide human conduct in the face of the profound and ongoing limitations of human nature.
Six lives: the provision of public services to people with learning disabilities: part one: overview and summary investigation reports: second report session 2008-2009
- Authors:
- LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMAN, PARLIAMENTARY AND HEALTH SERVICE OMBUDSMAN
- Publisher:
- Stationery Office
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 69p., CD ROM
- Place of publication:
- London
This independent report responds to complaints brought by the charity Mencap on behalf of the families of six people with learning disabilities who died whilst in NHS or local authority care between 2003 and 2005. The cases of Mark Cannon, Warren Cox, Edward Hughes, Emma Kemp, Martin Ryan and Tom Wakefield were originally brought to public attention in Mencap’s 2007 report Death by Indifference. This overview report draws out common themes and learning from these cases, and makes some general recommendations to address those issues. It also contains a summary of the individual investigation reports.
Added values
- Author:
- McINTOSH Kaye
- Journal article citation:
- Health Service Journal, 19.2.09, 2009, pp.20-22.
- Publisher:
- Emap Healthcare
A series of damning reports have highlighted institutional discrimination towards people with learning disabilities in the NHS. The author reports on proposed action to tackle these issues, including a confidential inquiry, a new public health observatory and the Valuing People Now strategy.
Safeguarding adults: lessons from the murder of Steven Hoskin
- Author:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Place of publication:
- London
Steven Hoskin had learning disabilities and lived alone in St Austell. He was tortured and murdered by people who targeted him because of his learning disabilities. Investigations showed that Steven had made numerous calls to a number of agencies, including the police, health and social care services, so they should have been aware that he was in danger. Following the serious case review into Steven’s murder there have been significant improvements in communication, information sharing and partnership working between the agencies in the area. Staff training has also been improved. The police have introduced a ‘neighbourhood harm register’ which ensures that an alert is raised when there are repeat calls from the same people with the same problems. In such cases, data is shared with the appropriate agencies and they work together to provide a joint response. Similarly, a system for recognising and responding to ‘cluster calls’ has been developed within the ambulance service. The video demonstrates that partnership between agencies and sound information sharing procedures are vital to the safeguarding of adults.