Welcome to this fourth issue of the journal for this volume covering the summerperiod. The year seems to be passing with alarming speed, and we hope that youfound the last issue, published during the spring, the special issue on caregiving,to be both interesting and useful. In this issue, we return to the regular format of paperscovering a broad range of safeguarding related topics.
As previously, although much of our media coverage is still focused on global issues such as war and climate-related crises, we continue to see coverage of safeguarding related issues in the UK. This includes those linked to problems which appear to be related to continuing societal problems that individuals experience but where the root causes are cumulative and concern such issues as high levels of deprivation and poverty the cost-of-living crisis. Further safeguarding problems arise concerning the longer-term impacts and consequences of over a decade of austerity measures, including cuts to welfare benefits and provision that have been introduced and implemented by successive governments, the effects of which continue to be apparent across society. Within this spectrum, we see continuing and repeated cuts to service provision, especially in relation to health and social care services, with associated acute shortages of resources. Safeguarding problems may occur for individuals, and families at least in part due to such continuing economic and social difficulties, and it is clear there are continuing problems and difficult decisions about potential solutions, which have lasting and serious impacts on the safety and well-being of many individuals in society.
In this issue, we are pleased to include papers from Poland and Hungary as well as the UK, which emphasises the continuing and growing reach of the topic, and the increasing range of issues covered. The first paper in this issue is by Kathryn Brookfield and colleagues from the University of Nottingham, who have provided a research paper reporting on a study relating to domestic abuse (DA) and the potential risks and benefits of several dual-use technologies. The specific technologies considered in the study were smart doorbells, use of indoor cameras such as some types of baby or pet monitors, and location tracking apps used on smart phones. Although the overall study was broader and used a mixed-methods approach, the paper covers findings from qualitative interviews about the topic that were undertaken with professionals working in domestic abuse, and several victim-survivors who had lived experience of abuse relating to use of such technology. Participants reported use of these types of devices (and apps) within a range of security measures following separation from abusers but were aware that these could also be used by DA perpetrators as part of ongoing abusive behaviour(s) and result in increased risk of harm for survivors. Some useful observations and recommendations are contained in the paper which may be of interest to those working in adult safeguarding.
This is followed by a paper by Anna Szafranak, of the University of Bialystok in Poland, concerning the issue of elder abuse that happens in institutional settings. The paper reports on a study involving interviews conducted with residents and staff in three different care homes as part of case study work undertaken in the homes. From the findings and analysis of the interviews, a typology of types of violent incidents, victims and perpetrators of institutional violence against older people is developed and explained. Several useful recommendations arising from the findings are made; these may well have some read across to safeguarding/adult protection systems for other institutional settings and in other jurisdictions.
The third paper in this issue also reports on a research study and has been provided by Mengxuan Chen of University of Szeged, Hungary. The paper reports on a literature-based analytical study that was undertaken, which looked at the role of robocare within long-term care settings and aimed to consider both the potential for such innovations to address abuse, but also possible risks involved. The analysis considered four key domains: respect for individuals’ values and preferences, issues relating to autonomy and empowerment, transparency and safety and also comprehensive/integrated care. The findings established that use of robocare systems had the potential to increase individuals’ autonomy, improve care quality and to reduce the workload of caregivers, but also leads to some key ethical concerns due to the relative absence of regulatory frameworks that adequately cover this area. The study highlighted the need for strong collaborations and the fundamental need for older people to be more involved in the design and development of such innovations and improvements to develop more positive cultures of ageing and to prevent the development of new forms of ageism some useful additional recommendations are made in the paper.
To continue with our series of interviews with individuals who have been involved in the world of adult safeguarding, our final full paper in this issue provides an interview with Deborah Kitson, the former CEO of the UK organisation the Ann Craft Trust (ACT), which was undertaken by Rachel Fyson (from the University of Nottingham). This practice-related paper consists of an interview intended to provide a record of the early development of thinking and practice in adult safeguarding in the UK, specifically relating to the area of adults with learning disabilities, as ACT is specialised in issues relating to safeguarding of adults and children with learning disabilities. In the interview, Deborah Kitson discusses the early development of policy and practice in adult safeguarding in the UK, with a particular focus on how safeguarding of people with learning disabilities developed from early work on the promotion of their human rights. From the early work by Ann Craft and Deborah Kitson to establish the organisation, including involvement in campaigning work, ACT has extended its reach to achieve a current broad remit, working with professionals and human services organisations to safeguard adults who are, or may be at risk of harm. The paper provides a useful charting of the origins and development of the organisation, together with concurrent interest in abuse and safeguarding more generally.
Our final paper in this issue is a book review provided by Ariska Gunawan of the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. The book reviewed is a volume entitled Tackling Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse: a Systems Approach edited by Olumide Adisa and Emma Bond and may be of interest to readers whose work encompasses these aspects of violence in the domestic setting. This is a useful book with chapters from a range of authors, covering academic, practitioner, policy, research and activist perspectives that provides useful insights into how such abuse is recognised and dealt with and should be of interest to a variety of individuals in this field.
We hope that you will find the papers in this issue of interest and that you will be able to make use of them in your safeguarding work. As usual, regular readers of the journal know that we are always interested in receiving contributions and that readers (and others of course) are invited to continue to submit papers about all aspects of adult safeguarding, and across the policy, research and practice spectrum in the broad area that comprises safeguarding. Please do get in touch with one of the editors if you would like to obtain further information or want to discuss potential ideas before writing. Our contact details can be found on the inside cover of the journal, or on the specific webpage for the journal found on the publisher (Emerald) website.
Finally, a quick reminder that we are looking forward to a special themed issue of the journal relating to topics concerning austerity and safeguarding is in preparation for next year and a call for papers for this special issue will appear soon on the journal Web page; or can be obtained following contact with one of the journal editors.
We look forward to providing further issues for this volume during the year covering the range of adult safeguarding topics. Meanwhile, we hope that the remainder of the summer months will go well for you all.
Bridget Penhale
June 2025
