Search results for ‘Subject term:"vulnerable adults"’ Sort:
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Abuse of vulnerable adults: what do we know about interventions
- Author:
- MANTHORPE Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 6.3.08, 2008, pp.34-35.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The author discusses the findings of a literature review on intervening to help adults who area at risk of abuse and harm. The literature review sets out what is known about support and protection measures.
A review of literature on effective interventions that prevent and respond to harm against adults
- Authors:
- KALAGA Halina, KINGSTON Paul
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government Social Research
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 64p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
This report was commissioned by the Scottish Executive with the aim of reviewing the literature relating to interventions that are available for adults ‘at risk’ of abuse and harm. The review notes the absence of literature regarding 'evidence based practice' in situations of adult abuse. The review is therefore limited in relation to reporting evidence of 'what works', but does describe the support and protection that is available in cases of adult abuse. This report documents the use of various interventions in relation to different types of abuse, and has categorised those interventions as 'primary, secondary, or tertiary' interventions. There are a number of common themes across the interventions which suggest transferability between types of abuse and stage of intervention; for example, advice and support services are used as interventions in relation to a number of types of abuse, and at different stages. The report concludes that the continuing prevalence of abuse and harm amongst vulnerable adults remains an issue within our communities. There is no ‘magic bullet’ solution. However, there are mechanisms of support, empowerment, training and education, and inter-agency co-operation which could help to reduce the risk faced by vulnerable groups. In responding to the recommendations identified within this report, Scotland has an opportunity to lead the United Kingdom in the protection of 'at risk' adults.
Systems change for people experiencing multiple disadvantage: what have we learned about the system and how it can change?
- Authors:
- NEW PHILANTHROPY CAPITAL, GROUNDSWELL, SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research
- Publisher:
- New Philanthropy Capital
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Pagination:
- 52
- Place of publication:
- London
This report synthesises the findings of two years of research and learning with Fulfilling Lives Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham (LSL). Fulfilling Lives LSL is part of a national programme testing new ways of supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage, so that individuals are better able to manage their own lives. Fulfilling Lives LSL contracted NPC, Groundswell, and The Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University as research and learning partners. The partnership sought to build an understanding of the current system of support in Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham, explore how it could change, and share that learning across the system. Throughout this report we link to other resources produced by the partnership, where you can learn more about the research and its findings. The research identified five core issues in the system, alongside recommendations for how each can be addressed: services can be difficult to access and navigate – this could be due to a lack of accessible information about services, rigid eligibility criteria, or logistical barriers; services can re-traumatise people and fail to meet their specific needs – people experiencing multiple disadvantage may need to re-tell stories of previous trauma as they transition between services, which can be re-traumatising and demoralising; services and commissioning are not always informed by people’s lived experience; practitioners are not always equipped to support people accessing services; short-term funding flows and siloed policy decisions can lead to ineffective services. A concerted effort by policymakers, commissioners and service providers to improve access and transitions, meet people’s specific needs, deliver person-led services, invest in practitioners, and improve funding and policy decisions has the potential to shift the way the system works. These changes will enable people experiencing multiple disadvantage to receive effective support and reach their full potential. (Edited publisher abstract)
“One size does not fit all:” a proposed ecological model for human trafficking intervention
- Authors:
- BARNER John R., OKECH David, CAMP Meghan A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, 15(2), 2018, pp.136-149.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The problem of human trafficking continues to be one of the vilest human rights abuse and manifestation of social injustice around the world. A lot of antitrafficking efforts have been put in place. However, there is still a lot of emphasis on the criminal aspect of the problem. This has meant that human and practical aspects of the problem have not received sufficient attention, including assessing the problem, victims, and perpetrators in their environments. The ecological perspective helps practitioners, researchers, and policy makers to better understand the problem. This article uses the main concepts in this theory to frame the problem. Discussions are directed toward understanding the different aspects of the problem from an ecological perspective. (Publisher abstract)
The Scottish adult support and protection legal framework
- Author:
- MACKAY Kathryn
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 10(4), November 2008, pp.25-36.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Scotland now has three key statutes that provide a legal framework for the support and protection of adults at risk of harm; Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act (2000), Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act (2003) and Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act (2007). This article provides details of the 2007 act and highlights its interaction with the other two. The author argues that an effective adult support and protection strategy will need to address all three acts. A pyramid of intervention is used to explain the increasing levels of intervention that are not available in Scotland. The article also highlights how Scotland continues to diverge from the rest of the UK. It argues that comparative studies within the UK as well as the wider world, using tools such as the pyramid, could improve our understanding of this important and rapidly changing area of law.
An evaluation of beyondblue, Australia’s national depression initiative
- Authors:
- PIRKIS Jane, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 7(2), May 2005, pp.35-53.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Beyondblue is a five-year Australian initiative which takes a population health approach to combating depression. This paper's aim is to describe the findings of an evaluation of beyondblue, conducted four years into its existence. The achievements of beyondblue were examined in the light of its objectives, using sythesised data from 15 secondary sources. Many of beyondblue's lower-level objectives have been completely achieved, with a plethora of key initiatives in place that have led to greater availability of information about depression, improvements in consumer networks, better support for mental health care delivery in primary care settings and increases in targeted research. Most if its intermediate-level and high-level objectives have been partly achieved, with headway made in terms of the community's 'depression literacy', acknowledgement of the consumer/carer perspective, the degree to which the health workforce is equipped to deal with depression, the likelihood that individuals will seek help, the range of prevention and early intervention options, the role of primary care practitioners in mental health care, and scientific knowledge about depression. However, in all these areas, ongoing efforts are required. beyondblue's vision, or highest-level objective, has not yet been realised. Society does not optimally understand, respond to or work actively to prevent depression. beyondblue has begun to make an impression, but it is unrealistic to expect systematic and cultural change of this magnitude to occur quickly. beyondblue has partly achieved its goals, and careful consideration should be given to what action is neccessary to foster sustainable positive change.
Interventions to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in vulnerably housed populations and trauma-informed care: a scoping review
- Journal article citation:
- BMJ Open, 12(3), 2022, Online only
- Publisher:
- BMJ Publishing Group
Objectives: The goals of this study are to identify and analyse interventions that aim to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD in people who are vulnerably housed and to describe how these treatments have been delivered using trauma-informed care. Design Scoping review: Search strategy: searched electronic databases including MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and PTSDpubs for published literature up to November 2021 for any studies that examined the treatment of PTSD in adults who were vulnerably housed. Websites of relevant organisations and other grey literature sources were searched to supplement the electronic database search. The characteristics and effect of the interventions were analysed. This study also explored how the interventions were delivered and the elements of trauma-informed care that were described. Results: 28 studies were included. This study identified four types of interventions: (1) trauma focused psychotherapies; (2) non-trauma psychotherapies; (3) housing interventions and (4) pharmacotherapies. The trauma-informed interventions were small case series and the non-trauma focused therapies included four randomised controlled trials, were generally ineffective. Of the 10 studies which described trauma-informed care the most commonly named elements were physical and emotional safety, the experience of feeling heard and understood, and flexibility of choice. The literature also commented on the difficulty of providing care to this population including lack of private space to deliver therapy; the co-occurrence of substance use; and barriers to follow-up including limited length of stay in different shelters and high staff turnover. Conclusions: This scoping review identified a lack of high-quality trials to address PTSD in people who are vulnerably housed. There is a need to conduct well designed trials that take into account the unique setting of this population and which describe those elements of trauma-informed care that are most important and necessary. (Edited publisher abstract)
Professionals' views on responding to county lines-related criminal exploitation in the West Midlands, UK
- Authors:
- OLVER Kristen, COCKBAIN Ella
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse Review, 30(4), 2021, pp.347-362.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
While certainly not a new phenomenon, the exploitation of children and vulnerable adults in ‘county lines’ drug distribution and sales now attracts considerable attention and concern. In this study, we explored professionals' perspectives on understandings of and responses to this issue in the West Midlands, UK. We conducted in-depth interviews with 11 participants from policing, prosecution, government and the third sector. Participants typically saw county lines-related exploitation as insufficiently understood, especially where individuals are both victimised and commit offences are concerned. They also characterised responses as hampered by factors such as variable use of legislation, inconsistent intelligence sharing and insufficient resources – particularly to support vulnerable people. More robust multiagency collaboration could help address these issues, although it also involves challenges. Our exploratory study focuses on criminal justice responses to county lines-related exploitation in particular, a relatively narrow set of professionals and one specific geographical location, meaning findings must not be overextended. Nevertheless, it provides novel insights into a complex, important and understudied phenomenon. We situate the work against the broader literature on exploitation, drawing parallels with child sexual exploitation and ‘modern slavery’ that could inform further research. (Edited publisher abstract)
An evaluation of Prioritise Me
- Authors:
- SPEAKE Beth, GILBERTSON Jan
- Publisher:
- Sheffield Hallam University. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 20
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
This short report presents the findings from an evaluation of the Prioritise Me training programme. The aim of the Prioritise Me project was to support vulnerable people who are energy consumers in genuinely creative ways, and to support capacity and understanding for people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Prioritise Me aimed to provide accessible and interactive advice and training about energy use and the energy market where understanding was limited; to develop accessible ideas and resources through piloting innovative work with University design and evaluation partners; and to engage people to speak confidently to energy providers, giving maximum impact for vulnerable adults in South Yorkshire. The evaluation indicates that the rationale and initial concept for the project has been validated: the importance and effectiveness of co-production of materials and training in this context has proved itself, and the materials produced have been both innovative and useful. Further, it has been demonstrated that the materials produced by the project have the potential for much wider application, not only for vulnerable groups but for a much wider section of the public, and not only locally but also at a regional level and nationally. (Edited publisher abstract)
Interventions for youth aging out of foster care: a state of the science review
- Authors:
- GREESON Johanna K. P., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 113, 2020, p.105005.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Background: The 1999 John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act expanded a federal funding stream for independent living/transition services for older youth (ages 14+) in and transitioning from foster care. As a result, there has been a proliferation of programs that target youth who are likely to age out of foster care with the intention of improving their emerging adulthood outcomes. These programs aim to improve wellbeing outcomes related to education, employment, housing, health/mental health, and relationships. Using a scoping review framework, the researchers sought to take stock of the state of the science of the programs and interventions (PIs) currently available for young people who age out of foster care. They offer research recommendations regarding how the field can move forward with promoting improved wellbeing of young people in care as they transition to adulthood. The researchers assess to what extent both services for young people aging out of care and related research has included vulnerable populations, including pregnant/parenting youth, LGBTQ + youth, youth of color, youth with disabilities, and crossover youth. Method: Using the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices (2010) as a guide, we searched the research and gray literatures for PIs that target education, employment, housing, health/mental health, and relationships. Then, we searched the research and gray literatures for evidence of effectiveness in the form of peer-reviewed scientific articles and evaluation reports. Next, based on the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) for Child Welfare’s Scientific Rating Scale, we assigned each PI a rating (1 = Well-Supported by Research Evidence, 2 = Supported by Research Evidence, 3 = Promising Research Evidence, 4 = Failure to Demonstrate Effect, and 5 = Concerning Practice). Findings: Of the 79 PIs we found, 10 (13%) yielded a rating from 1 to 5. The best rating in any of the five practice areas was a 2 (“Supported by Research Evidence”), which applied to four programs. The area with the most rated programs was relationships, with four programs receiving a rating. The area with the least PIs was health/mental health care, with only a single program receiving a rating. Regarding vulnerable populations, 64 programs targeted at least one of the vulnerable populations of interest; 10 (16%) were rated with the CEBC Scale. Implications: When the Foster Care Independence Act was passed, there was a dearth of PIs that targeted the wellbeing of older youth in foster care who were likely to age out. In the last 20 years, the study says, there has been an excellent job done in developing PIs. Given the results of this scoping review, the authors say that it is now time to build the evidence for the PIs that already exist. This process entails ensuring agencies are equipped with the capacities to implement PIs to fidelity and that procedures are in place to examine the effectiveness for the many PIs that are already being delivered to marginalized young people who age out of care. Special attention should also be devoted to testing the efficacy and effectiveness of existing PIs for vulnerable populations, as their experiences have not been adequately illuminated by previous research. (Edited publisher abstract)