Adult protection in Scotland in 1857 and in 2015: what have we learned?

Campbell, Martin

doi:10.1108/jap-09-2015-0025

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Perhaps, a more important question is whether those at risk of harm feel safer because of the use of such tools? (Campbell, 2016). The findings of this current study support the human rights based approach towards assessment of adults in need of care and support and the strengths based approach towards risk (Greenhill and Whitehead, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment tools used in adult safeguarding practice within the UK and Ireland: results from a small-scale qualitative study

Doyle

Montgomery

Donnelly

et al. 2023

JAP

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Purpose Across the UK and Ireland, there are a range of processes and interventions offered to adults who, because of personal characteristics or life circumstances, require help to keep themselves safe from potential harm or abuse. The ways in which the statutory and voluntary sectors have chosen to safeguard these adults varies. Different models of intervention and the utilisation of a range of assessment tools, frameworks and approaches have evolved, often in response to policy and practice wisdom. Empirical research in this area is limited. The primary research purpose of the project on which this paper is based is to gather information on the range of tools and frameworks that are used in adult safeguarding practice across the UK and Ireland. In so doing, this paper seeks to contribute and inform the future development of an evidence based adult safeguarding assessment framework. Design/methodology/approach A team of academics from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland wanted to explore the possibility of adapting a pre-existing assessment framework currently in use in family and childcare social work to consider its utility in assessing carers involved in adult safeguarding referrals. This paper reports on a small pilot study which sought to inform the adaptation of this framework for use in adult safeguarding. This paper is based on a qualitative study involving 11 semi-structured telephone interviews with adult safeguarding social work managers and experienced practitioners. Two to four professionals from each region of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland were interviewed to elicit their perceptions and experiences of engaging in adult safeguarding assessment processes and their views about models of assessment. Findings This study identified considerable variation in and between the nations under review, in terms of the assessment frameworks and tools used in adult safeguarding practice. To a large extent, the assessment frameworks and tools in use were not evidence based or accredited. Participants acknowledged the value of using assessment frameworks and tools whilst also identifying barriers in undertaking effective assessments. Originality/value There is limited evidence available in the literature regarding the utility of assessment frameworks and tools in adult safeguarding practice. This primary research identifies four themes derived from professional’s experiences of using such frameworks and identifies broader recommendations for policy and practice in this area.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment tools used in adult safeguarding practice within the UK and Ireland: results from a small-scale qualitative study

Doyle

Montgomery

Donnelly

et al. 2023

JAP

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“…In the mid-nineteenth century, there was an emphasis on what staff should not be doing. The original Inquiry Report (1855-1857) into the standards of care was prompted by detailed accounts of abuse and organisational incompetence, observed and reported to the British Government by Dorothea Dix, an American campaigner who had visited the existing royal asylums and private madhouses in Scotland (Tiffany, 1890; Gollaher, 1995; Campbell, 2016).…”

Section: Staffingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The journey from first inspection to quality standards (1857-2016): are we there yet?

Campbell

2017

JAP

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This paper is a qualitative analysis of areas of the inspection and regulation of care for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems in Scotland, in two time periods. The paper uses comparative historical research, drawing on primary sources from 1857 to 1862 in the form of Annual Reports of the General Board of Commissioners in Lunacy for Scotland and associated papers, to compare inspection methods, quality standards, and to identify persistent challenges to effective inspection. Political, clinical and public awareness led initially to criticisms of existing care and eventually to the development of the "The Lunacy Act" of 1857. This Act resulted in the first attempts to set minimum standards of care for individuals at risk, with enforceable regulation. Some factors recur as challenges to effective practice in the inspection and regulation of care today. There are problems of definition, reliable monitoring of quality standards and adequate, independent inspection of services that respond to unacceptable standards of care. There is a growing evidence base about best methods of inspection of services for people in care who are most at risk. These methods attempt to strike a balance between evidence-based and valuebased judgements. Perspectives from history may help focus resources most effectively. This paper identifies common themes and common challenges in two time periods to investigate what can be learned about the development of policy and practice in inspection and regulation of care.

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