Search results for ‘Subject term:"vulnerable adults"’ Sort:
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Implications of divergences in adult protection legislation
- Authors:
- MONTGOMERY Lorna, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 18(3), 2016, pp.149-160.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the similarities and differences of legal responses to older adults who may be at risk of harm or abuse in the UK, Ireland, Australia and the USA. Design/methodology/approach: The authors draw upon a review of elder abuse and adult protection undertaken on behalf of the commissioner for older people in Northern Ireland. This paper focusses on the desk top mapping of the different legal approaches and draws upon wider literature to frame the discussion of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the different legal responses. Findings: Arguments exist both for and against each legal approach. Differences in defining the scope and powers of adult protection legislation in the UK and internationally are highlighted. Research limitations/implications: This review was undertaken in late 2013; while the authors have updated the mapping to take account of subsequent changes, some statutory guidance is not yet available. While the expertise of a group of experienced professionals in the field of adult safeguarding was utilized, it was not feasible to employ a formal survey or consensus model. Practical implications: Some countries have already introduced APL and others are considering doing so. The potential advantages and challenges of introducing APL are highlighted. Social implications: The introduction of legislation may give professionals increased powers to prevent and reduce abuse of adults, but this would also change the dynamic of relationships within families and between families and professionals. Originality/value: This paper provides an accessible discussion of APL across the UK and internationally which to date has been lacking from the literature. (Publisher abstract)
Public health in a changing climate
- Authors:
- BUTTON Daniel, COOTE Anna
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- ii, 46
- Place of publication:
- York
This report reviews current local strategies and actions to address climate change by public health departments and their partners. Potential threats to public health from a changing climate include death and injury from extreme weather, including heat affecting in particular the older population and flooding; increased effects from air pollution; the spread of disease; food insecurity; population displacement; and mental ill health. The report explores barriers and opportunities for action, and identifies recommendations for local and national policy and practice. It finds that the full potential of recent structural changes to the public health system is not being realised; the risks of climate change to health are occasionally acknowledged within Joint Strategic Needs Assessments - however, this awareness is seldom reflected in Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies; many public health departments are taking climate action and this is often driven by individuals championing initiatives rather than strategy - where actions have been taken, they are framed in terms of the shorter-term benefits to health and wellbeing; and cuts to local authority budgets and the long-term nature of climate change mean that climate change is seldom regarded as a priority. (Edited publisher abstract)
Protection of vulnerable adults in Wales, 2015-16
- Author:
- WALES. Welsh Government
- Publisher:
- Wales. Welsh Government
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 14
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Statistical release summarising key findings from the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PVA2) data collection for the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016. The return includes information about the volume of safeguarding activity taking place; the type of abuse, which include neglect, physical abuse, emotional, financial and sexual abuse; the characteristics of adults who may be at risk of harm; and the locations where the alleged abuse has taken place. A total of 4,485 completed referrals for adult protection were reported in 2015-16, an increase of 11 per cent from 2014-15. Of these, 3,045 led to an investigation. The most common types of abuse reported were neglect and physical abuse, occurring in 36 per cent and 32 per cent of cases respectively. Staff were most likely to be alleged responsible for abuse (56 per cent of referrals) followed by relatives (23 per cent). (Edited publisher abstract)
Exploring the complexities of understanding vulnerability and adult safeguarding within Christian faith organisations
- Authors:
- OAKLEY Lisa Ruth, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 18(3), 2016, pp.172-183.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report the findings from a study exploring the understanding of vulnerability and adult safeguarding within Christian faith-based settings. The paper concludes with recommendations for practitioners involved in safeguarding adults in faith-based Christian settings. Design/methodology/approach: The paper considers a survey (n=3,182) into understanding of vulnerability and adult safeguarding for individuals who attend Church regularly or work in a Christian organisation. Findings: This study is the first to be undertaken with a UK sample and highlights a range of factors informing adult safeguarding practice within Christian organisations. This includes: complexity linked to understanding vulnerability and its role in safeguarding activity; lack of clarity about what to do with a safeguarding adult concern; and the need for safeguarding training pertinent to the particular needs of faith-based settings. Research limitations/implications: As there is currently a dearth of research in this area this paper makes a valuable contribution to the developing knowledge base around safeguarding and vulnerability within faith-based organisations. Practical implications: Professionals need to develop increased understanding of the complexities involved in safeguarding activity, and specifically how those working in the wider context of supporting vulnerable adults make sense of safeguarding processes and procedures. Social implications: It is important that all organisations, including faith-based settings, working with adults have an understanding of their roles and responsibilities with respect to safeguarding those at risk of harm. Originality/value: This paper is the first UK study to consider safeguarding adults at risk of harm in Christian faith contexts. (Publisher abstract)
Working together to safeguard people: volume 4: adult protection and support orders. Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
- Author:
- WALES. Welsh Government
- Publisher:
- Wales. Welsh Government
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 25
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This statutory guidance, issued under section 131 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, provides a single point of reference on Adult Protection and Support Orders (APSOs) for local authorities. APSOs are to be used to enable an authorised officer, and any other person specified in the order, to speak to an adult suspected of being at risk of abuse or neglect in private, to establish whether the adult can make decisions freely, to assess whether the person is an adult at risk and to establish if any action should be taken. The guidance provides information on what an APSO is and when it can used; seeking, making and enforcement of an APSO. It also looks at what needs to be done after an order is made. The guidance will also be of interest to the police and court staff. (Edited publisher abstract)
Safeguarding vulnerable older people: a job for life?
- Author:
- MOORE Steve
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 18(4), 2016, pp.214-228.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the findings from one component of an empirical, mixed methods research project designed to determine the extent, nature and causes of abuse in contemporary independent sector care homes for older people. Design/methodology/approach: A self-completion, postal questionnaire was used to elicit both numerical and textual data that were subsequently subjected to both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The questionnaire was distributed to newly appointed care staff in five participating care homes to determine the nature of any abuse they may have witnessed in the homes in which they had previously worked. Findings: A significant proportion of respondents described instances of predominantly psychological and physical abuse and neglect and revealed hitherto undisclosed abusive practices. Research limitations/implications: Though the research draws upon the experiences of only 140 anonymous questionnaire respondents, of whom 94 had witnessed abuse, data suggest abuse continues to occur in some care homes for older people. Originality/value: The research has revealed staffs’ recent experiences of a range of abusive acts and practices. Findings suggest that changes are required to current methods of external scrutiny and investigation of practices in care homes. (Publisher abstract)
Frailty in self-neglecting older adults: a secondary analysis
- Authors:
- LEE Jessica L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 28(3), 2016, pp.152-162.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Self-neglect (SN) and frailty in older adults is associated with increased disability and mortality. Despite these commonalities, there have been no studies objectively assessing frailty in older adults who SN. This secondary analysis classified frailty in N = 37 older adults with Adult Protective Services validated SN using the Fried Frailty Phenotype (FFP) of weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, activity level, and walking speed. Overall, 3% were classified as robust, 62% as prefrail, and 35% as frail. Most (72%) were overweight/obese, with clinically significant decreases in activity level (60%) and walking speed (97%). Compared to the original FFP population, older adults who SN exhibit important differences in frailty phenotypes, and finding that the largest percentage of older adults who SN were prefrail may indicate a critical opportunity for intervening in this population to reduce future functional decline and mortality. (Publisher abstract)
‘People with learning disabilities need a commissioner and a legal charter of rights’ – no they do not!
- Author:
- RICHARDS Michael
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 31(3), 2016, pp.426-430.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Since the UK Winterbourne View scandal, there have been a number of reports and responses recommending what should be done to ensure a similar scandal does not happen again. Two ideas have emerged which suggest that people with learning disabilities need a legal charter of rights and a commissioner to make a difference in their lives. This article, however, argues that although it is right that issues affecting people with learning disabilities are at the heart of discussion and debate, this does not take into account the complex, flexible and multiple identities of people with learning disabilities, and their knowledge, experiences and skills. This would be more beneficial in understanding the lives of people with the label of learning disabilities than a commissioner or a charter. (Original abstract)
Are adults in need of support and protection being identified in emergency departments?
- Authors:
- JARVIS Alison, FENNELL Kate, COSGROVE Annette
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 18(1), 2016, pp.3-13.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Frequent attendance at emergency departments (ED) has been identified in adult protection reviews as a potential warning sign of the escalation of someone’s vulnerability. Concern has been expressed about the engagement of the National Health Service (NHS) in adult protection and the small number of NHS adult protection referrals. More specifically ED departments have been identified as an area of high patient through put where there has been little evidence around how well adult support and protection (ASP) was being delivered. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: A series of audits were undertaken in three different hospitals across a large Scottish Health Board accessing ED at different times of day on different days of the week to test out whether NHS staff working in EDs are identifying adults who meet the criteria of “an adult at risk”. Findings: The audits identified a total of 11 patients from a total sample of 552 records examined who may have met the criteria to be considered an adult at risk, although further information would have been required to make a fully informed decision. Research limitations/implications: The main study limitation is that the hospitals are all within a single Health Board. The EDs have a large number of admissions and it is possible that a less pressurised area, might have a lower threshold of “risk” than the practitioners involved in the audits. The decision as to whether an adult was considered to meet the three-point test by the three people undertaking the audit was dependent on the quality of information recorded on the patients’ electronic hospital record. Practical implications: It is essential that NHS Boards proactively support practice in ED settings so staff are able to identify adults at risk of harm under the ASP legislation so that ED staff are responsive to ASP needs. (Edited publisher abstract)
Call of duty: an exploration of the factors influencing NHS professionals to report adult protection concerns
- Author:
- FENNELL Kate
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 18(3), 2016, pp.161-171.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 places a duty on Councils to investigate the circumstances of adults who, because of a disability, health condition or illness are unable to safeguard themselves from harm. Public partner agencies, including the NHS have a statutory obligation to bring to the attention of the Council those individuals who may be at risk of harm. Health professionals cooperate with adult protection investigations and participate in the development of adult support and protection plans, yet do not appear to be initiating adult protection referrals with the Council. Low reporting by health has also been recognised as a national issue. The purpose of this paper is to explore what promotes and what prohibits the identification and reporting of situations of abuse within the Scottish Legislative Framework. Understanding the decision-making processes of prospective reporters would potentially allow the barriers to be reduced and the supports to be strengthened. Design/methodology/approach: The research strategy is based on a literature review, a web-based survey and semi-structured interviews with health professionals within community learning and community mental health teams. Findings: The findings point to a number of inter-related factors which impinge upon the professional’s confidence to initiate adult protection referrals. Workers must first recognise harm as conduct which needs to be reported and addressed. They need to be familiar with referral procedures and be assured that their concerns will be dealt with appropriately. Health professionals are more likely to report if they are based in an environment which supports honest and open discussion regarding harm, without over-concern about agency reputation or resources. Access to multi-disciplinary consultation and support, particularly in relation to more ambiguous protection situations, was viewed as fundamental to reporting. Originality/value: This small scale study adds to a developing bank of literature providing a Scottish perspective on protecting adults. It offers some insight into reporting decisions from the viewpoint of community health professionals. (Publisher abstract)