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Engaging with the new system of safeguarding adults reviews concerning care homes for older people
- Authors:
- MANTHORPE Jill, MARTINEAU Stephen
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 47(7), 2017, pp.2086-2099.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Adult Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) investigate situations in which harm to or death of a vulnerable adult has occurred, or where abuse or neglect was suspected and local agencies’ responses were deemed in need of scrutiny. Under the 2014 Care Act, in England, SCRs have moved to a statutory footing, being renamed Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs). This paper reports an analysis of SCRs concerning older residents of care homes conducted in 2015. While there is a clear forensic methodology for investigating single cases that indicate multi-agency failings of safeguarding, ‘whole home’ or ‘collective abuse’ investigations are difficult to undertake, requiring review of numerous records and consultations. Failure to recognise abuse may reflect professionals’ uncertainties about thresholds for action when encountering poor care quality or abuse and the exclusion of social workers from involvement with the care and support of care home residents. SCRs sometimes comment on sub-optimal support for care home residents from local social work practitioners or hint at missed opportunities. Reflections on what needs to change in local systems of care and support may include new scope for the development of gerontological social work practice. (Publisher abstract)
Capabilities statement for social workers in England who work with older people
- Author:
- BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS
- Publisher:
- British Association of Social Workers
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 19
- Place of publication:
- Birmingham
This statement and development pathway sets out the knowledge, skills and values that social workers need to work with older people. It sets out the enhanced capabilities for five different levels of a social work career, showing how these capabilities develop and deepen through experience and ongoing professional development. The five levels cover: capabilities at qualification; at the end of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment; social worker and experienced social worker; advanced level; and at strategic level. The capabilities cover: professionalism; contexts and organisations; leadership; values and ethics; diversity; rights and justice; knowledge; critical reflection; and intervention and skills. The capabilities are not mandatory and act as guidance to improve social work development and they reflect what the evidence suggests will promote older people’s well-being. The statement has been developed by the social work profession, in partnership with older people, carers and diverse partner organisations and has been endorsed by the Department of Health. (Edited publisher abstract)
The present retirement crisis and how social workers can respond
- Authors:
- MILLER David B., HOKENSTAD M.Terry, BERG Kristen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 60(5), 2017, pp.395-407.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Research on Americans’ retirement readiness indicates a wide range of preparedness for the golden years. Called a “crisis” by researchers, retirement for some may include significant choices: continued employment or utilisation of social welfare services. This article describes factors contributing to the retirement crisis and roles social workers can play in assisting older retirees. Disparity in household retirement savings exists by ethnicity. On the front lines serving ageing individuals and their families, social work professionals are well situated to collaborate with individuals, and other providers, to address financial, social and emotional pillars necessary in facilitating a safe and secure retirement. (Edited publisher abstract)
Being with a person in our care: person-centered social work practice that is authentically person-centered
- Authors:
- WASHBURN Allyson, M., GROSSMAN Melanie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 60(5), 2017, pp.408-423.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Person-centred care (PCC) has emerged over the last several decades as the benchmark for providing quality care for diverse populations, including older adults with multiple chronic conditions that affect daily life. This article critiques current conceptualisations of PCC, including the social work competencies recently developed by the Council on Social Work Education, finding that they do not fully incorporate certain key elements that would make them authentically person-centred. In addition to integrating traditional social work values and practice, social work’s PCC should be grounded in the principles of classical Rogerian person-centred counsellings and an expanded conceptualisation of personhood that incorporates Kitwood’s concepts for working with persons with dementia. Critically important in such a model of care is the relationship between the caring professional and the care recipient. This article recommends new social work competencies that incorporate both the relationship-building attitudes and skills needed to provide PCC that is authentically person-centred. (Edited publisher abstract)
Renegotiating power in adult safeguarding: the role of advocacy
- Authors:
- LONBAY Sarah P., BRANDON Toby
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 19(2), 2017, pp.78-91.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The increased involvement of adults at risk in the safeguarding process has become a prominent issue within English safeguarding policy. However, there is evidence to suggest that actual levels of involvement are still low. The purpose of this paper is to present findings from a PhD study in relation to the benefits of advocacy in supporting this involvement in adult safeguarding for older people. Design/methodology/approach: Participants in the study included advocates and social workers who had experience of working with older people through the safeguarding process within two North East England local authorities. A critical realist approach through in-depth interviews was taken with all the participants. Findings: The research findings in relation to the benefits of advocacy in supporting older people going through safeguarding processes are reported. The practical limitations and factors which help and hinder advocacy support within the process are also considered. The theoretical implications for power, empowerment, and advocacy are also explored. Research limitations/implications: A key limitation of this research is that it did not include older people who had been through safeguarding amongst the participants. Practical implications: Key implications for practice and policy are discussed. Originality/value: The paper provides an overview and critique of empowerment in adult safeguarding and the role that advocates play in promoting this key principle. (Publisher abstract)
A social work perspective on how ageist language, discourses and understandings negatively frame older people and why taking a critical social work stance is essential
- Author:
- DUFFY Francis
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 47(7), 2017, pp.2068-2085.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
As populations age around the globe, social workers will have more and more contact with older people, particularly in the practice fields of health care and social care services. Language and dominant discourses associated with older people and ageing in politics, in the media and other institutions are often underpinned by ageism and fail to convey accurate accounts and understandings of ageing issues. In response to how this pervasive ageism plays out in health care and social care services practice settings, this paper argues that all social workers urgently ought to move beyond conventional social work, which is most dominant in practice, and embrace more aspects of critical social work in relation to ageing societies and working with older people. This is necessary to identify, critique and challenge ill-informed and oppressive language, labels and discourses used to describe older people and explain ageing issues. Embedding gerontological social work as core learning in social work education is essential to social work achieving what is required to achieve these goals. (Publisher abstract)
Domestic abuse and older people: factors influencing help-seeking
- Authors:
- WYDALL Sarah, ZERK Rebecca
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 19(5), 2017, pp.247-260.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore professionals’ perceptions of the barriers to help-seeking for victim-survivors of domestic abuse aged 60 years and over. Help-seeking as defined by Anderson and Saunders (2003) is not a single act or decision, but a complex and continuous process, victims engage in when seeking support. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 50 qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with statutory practitioners and managers from 21 out of 22 local authorities in Wales. The research team worked collaboratively to produce a coding scheme which was subjected to a systematic coding exercise using the software package NVivo. Findings: Professionals believed that older people’s “interconnectedness” with family, social embeddedness in the community and “meanings of the home” influenced help-seeking. The research suggests that for older victim-survivors of domestic abuse, age discrimination by practitioners, compounds older people’s experiences of help-seeking, restricting the range, quality and type of support provided. The paper demonstrates that a significant shift is required in practice to ensure that older people are in a position to make informed choices and their wishes are central in the decision-making process. Research limitations/implications: Further qualitative research is needed to explore what older people themselves believe are the factors that impact on statutory service engagement. Originality/value: This study is the first in the UK to conduct Pan-Wales research on professionals’ views on help-seeking behaviours of older people. One of the key findings from the study is that professionals from the statutory sector feel that connections to the home and social networks strongly influence help-seeking for older victim-survivors of domestic abuse. (Publisher abstract)
Using the eco-map and ecosystems perspective to guide skilled nursing facility discharge planning
- Authors:
- MILLER V.J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 60(6-7), 2017, pp.504-518.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Growing numbers of seniors across the United States require skilled nursing facility care after an inpatient hospital stay. Previous studies indicate that roughly 20 percent of all hospitalised Medicare beneficiaries are admitted to a skilled nursing facility following a qualifying hospital stay. Social workers address psychosocial problems, social support, networks, and healthcare needs during transitions in care, particularly discharge planning. Ecosystems perspective and the eco-map as a discharge planning tool is presented. Social workers can use these tools to examine the patient with respect to their transactional relationships with systems. This will further will facilitate provision of wrap-around services upon discharge. (Publisher abstract)
Alzheimer's disease and the law: positive and negative consequences of structural stigma and labelling in the legal system
- Authors:
- WERNER Perla, DORON Israel (Issi)
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(11), 2017, pp.1206-1213.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objective: To explore the meaning and consequences of labelling on structural stigma in the context of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the legal system. Method: This qualitative study was made up of three focus groups including social workers and lawyers (n = 26). Participants were asked to report their experience in circumstances in which persons with AD and their family members engage with the legal system. Thematic analysis using the constant comparative method was used. Results: The discussions in the focus groups raised two overall themes. (1) The significance of the medical diagnostic labelling of AD in the legal system and (2) the consequences of labelling of AD within the legal system. This last theme included four sub-themes: (a) negative consequences of labelling; (b) reasons associated with negative consequences of labelling; (c) positive consequences of labelling; and (d) reasons associated with positive consequences of labelling. Conclusion: Findings of the study provide a first foundation for future research on the meaning and consequences of labelling in legal cases involving persons with AD. They suggest that increasing judges' knowledge about AD and reforming the existing ‘status-based’ legal capacity legislation might benefit by limiting the legal weight given today to the medical diagnosis. (Edited publisher abstract)
The intersecting cognitive and aging needs of HIV-positive older adults: implications for social work practice
- Authors:
- EATON Andrew David, CRAIG Shelley L., WALLACE Robert
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 56(8), 2017, pp.733-747.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Cognitive impairment is a significant health concern for people ageing with HIV/AIDS. Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework, the authors surveyed (n = 108) and interviewed (n = 20) people living with HIV who were over age 50 about their cognitive concerns and recommendations for social work intervention development. Quantitative findings indicate that the authors' sample was greatly engaged in their HIV care, yet participants had many cognitive concerns. Qualitative findings highlighted fear, shame, and uncertainty concerning HIV and ageing alongside a need for increased social work support. This paper provides practical engagement strategies for social workers to support clients concerning HIV, ageing, and cognition. (Edited publisher abstract)