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Helping or hindering in adult safeguarding: an investigation of practice
- Authors:
- STEVENS Martin, MARTINEAU Stephen, NORRIE Caroline, MANTHORPE Jill
- Publisher:
- King's College London. Social Care Workforce Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 104
- Place of publication:
- London
Examines current safeguarding practice in England where access to an adult at risk is obstructed by a third party and explores views about whether social workers (and others) need more legal powers. This study focused on adults who are able to make decisions – people who have ‘mental capacity’ – as there are laws covering people who are not able to make decisions. The study found that while problems with getting to talk to adults who appeared to be at risk of harm were common, most are resolved by good social work practice, creativity and persistence. However, in a small number of cases, gaining any access proves very difficult and sometimes impossible. In these cases, legal intervention is sometimes required, but sometimes, no access is achieved. Most of the social workers and older and disabled people who were interviewed or surveyed thought that, on balance, there should be additional legal powers for social workers, including a power of entry. The study concluded that without greater knowledge about the size and nature of the problem – and therefore the costs to local authorities and the outcomes for those involved – policy options may be limited. One option proposed was to ask local authorities to count the number of cases of sustained obstruction. This would need to define terms like sustained obstruction or serious problems. Increasing the scope of current practice guidance, particularly in relation to multi-agency working, was another policy option outlined by the research. (Edited publisher abstract)