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Managers' and staff experiences of adult protection allegations in mental health and learning disability residential services: a qualitative study
- Authors:
- REES Paul, MANTHORPE Jill
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 40(2), March 2010, pp.513-529.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Adult protection policy slowly developed in England and Wales during the 1990s. In the same decade specialist residential services expanded for people with mental health problems and with learning disabilities. Many referrals to adult protection systems emanate from this sector but few result in conclusive outcomes. This article reports on a small study exploring the impact of adult protection legislation and guidance within a small number of residential adult mental health and learning disability units in England and Wales. The focus of the article is the issues for staff who have been accused of abuse and for the managers of such services during investigations. Data from interviews with 13 residential unit managers and 10 care workers, who were suspended following an allegation but later exonerated, are presented. Perceptions of the development of adult protection practice, policy and legislation were that these have generally led to positive outcomes. However, these data reveal other outcomes including service disruption, stress for residents, staff and managers. Multi-agency collaboration, transparency of practice, training, reflective practice, and effective supervision of frontline staff, appeared to assist managers and care workers in negotiating the positive and negative experiences of the implementation of adult protection systems.