Renegotiating power in adult safeguarding: the role of advocacy

Abstract

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. This paper presents findings from a PhD study in relation to the benefits of advocacy in supporting this involvement in adult safeguarding for older people. Methodology: 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.

Social workers’ negotiation of the liminal space between personalisation policy and practice

“…The study utilised a retroductive methodology and eight social workers were interviewed using a semi-structured approach (other participants were also involved in the study, but only data from the social workers is reported here). For more information on the methodology and other study findings please see Lonbay (2015); Lonbay and Brandon (2017), and Lonbay (2018a).…”

“…This appears to be particularly relevant when there are issues with mental capacity and social workers have to make decisions on the person's behalf. In these cases, family members are often relied upon as proxies for the person, with independent advocacy used infrequently (Lonbay & Brandon, 2017).…”

“…The views of family were valued but always questioned to ensure their choices were in the individual's best interests. Independent advocacy could be used to promote empowerment for individuals if necessary (Lonbay & Brandon, 2017).…”

“…Both the Care Act 2014 and the MCA 2005 make provision for advocacy. However, uptake is limited suggesting that further promotion and consideration of advocacy provision is needed ( (Lonbay & Brandon, 2017). There has been a suggestion that the advocacy role of social workers has increased under personalisation (e.g.…”

Practice perspectives and theoretical debates about social workers’ legal powers to protect adults

“…In one definition of vulnerability, individuals are vulnerable because of 'disability, mental disorder, illness or … frailty' (Sherwood-Johnson, 2013: p917) or their social status, such as early childhood. Focusing on inherent characteristics, turns vulnerability into 'a permanent aspect of identity rather than a temporary situational effect' (Lonbay andBrandon, 2017, p. 79. Sherwood-Johnson (2013) and Stewart and Atkinson (2012) maintained that to impose ASPA Protection Orders without consent is to assume that adults at risk, who have decisionmaking capacity but are considered 'vulnerable', are inherently less resilient to pressure and thereby have weaker autonomy.…”