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Could planning for safety be a realistic alternative to risk management for those deemed vulnerable?
- Author:
- PARLEY Fiona
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 13(1), February 2011, pp.6-18.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Within learning disabilities services, the protection of adults considered vulnerable has received ever increasing attention in recent years. However, there is a lack of clear understanding of the terms vulnerability and abuse. Without proper definitions, it is felt that the development and implementation of adult protection policies will be difficult. In this paper, the views of 20 care staff were investigated using semi-structured interviews. The study aimed to perform a detailed analysis of interpretations of the terms vulnerability and abuse within learning disability services. Overall, findings suggested that most participants agreed that all people with learning disabilities are vulnerable, and that this definition allows staff the authority to take protective measures in order to ensure their safety, based on risk management approaches. In ending, an alternative person-centred approach to safety planning is suggested.
The understanding that care staff bring to abuse
- Author:
- PARLEY Fiona
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 12(1), February 2010, pp.13-26.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This research study investigated care staff views relating to vulnerability and abuse of adults with learning difficulties. In the qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were used with a sample of 20 care staff working across the statutory and the independent care sector. The findings indicated that there is a lack of clarity regarding what constitutes abuse. Almost all respondents named sexual abuse and physical abuse, fewer named verbal abuse or psychological/emotional abuse and still fewer named financial abuse or neglect. No one spontaneously mentioned human rights infringement. Prompts regarding bullying and harassment elicited very variable responses. In particular there was a feeling that people with learning disabilities will never be free of bullying and harassment. Power, authority and control were all used by respondents to describe the need to have the ability to manage challenging situations. It was evident that unqualified staff in particular had observed behaviour that they considered abusive, yet they did not feel that they could speak out against it. The author concludes that further investigation relating to rights infringement, neglect, bullying and harassment is warranted in order that greater awareness may lead to improved safety for these vulnerable adults.