Editorial
Article Type: Editorial From: The Journal of Adult Protection, Volume 18, Issue 3.
Welcome to our third issue of the year. This issue contains a mixture of papers encompassing a range of topics relating to adult safeguarding. The first paper, by Preston-Shoot is a helpful addition to previous publications, that builds on the developing knowledge base around serious case reviews and self-neglect. Formerly, reviews have tended to consider the micro-level contexts surrounding particular cases in relation to practitioners, their teams and the individuals (and at times their families) who are the subject of self-neglect. Through the use of psychodynamic and systemic theoretical perspectives in this paper the analyses have been extended to include more complex contextual concerns. These relate to societal, legal and organisational contexts as well as the professional and personal, so that information can be derived about how these different contexts both impact on and are influenced by work with adults who self-neglect. Although the paper relates to self-neglect, readers will note implications for contextual analyses in other types of reviews.
Our second paper, by Montgomery and colleagues (from Northern Ireland, Finland, Scotland and the USA) focuses on similarities and differences in legal provision and responses to adults who may be at risk of harm in different countries (in this case,the UK, Ireland, Australia and the USA). The paper is based on a review of elder abuse and adult protection that was commissioned by the Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland. It focuses on a mapping of the different approaches to legal provision and draws on the wider literature that is available to look at the relative strengths and weaknesses of the differing responses. This is an interesting comparative paper that will be useful for those who are interested in how abuse and safeguarding are viewed and responded to in different contexts.
The third paper in this issue is a paper by Fennell, from Scotland, which reports on a study that was undertaken in order to explore the barriers and facilitators to the identification and reporting of potential adult protection concerns by health professionals. Although relatively small-scale, the study consisted of both an online survey and semi-structured interviews with health professionals from community learning disability and community mental health teams. There were a number of interesting findings, including the apparent need for openness within organisational environments to allow for honest discussion by practitioners of concerns about abuse.
The following paper, by Oakley and colleagues considers the issue of abuse within faith-based organisations, which was also raised by Redmond in our previous issue in relation to issues of charitable and religious fundraising among older adults who might be vulnerable to financial abuse. This current paper approaches the issue from a somewhat broader perspective, that of exploring understandings about adult safeguarding and issues of vulnerability by individuals working within Christian faith organisations or who attend Church regularly. The paper reports on a large-scale survey undertaken in the UK. Findings related to some complexities for individuals relating to understandings of vulnerability and safeguarding issues and concern and uncertainty from respondents about what to do about potential safeguarding concerns, in terms of the actions and responses that might be required. A need for training relevant to faith-based organisations (including some quite specific elements at times) was also identified by participants. The findings are useful in relation to the further development of safeguarding within the broader context of organisations that work to provide support for individuals (including those who might be at risk of harm).
Our final paper of this issue is by Parlalis and reports on a study undertaken in Cyprus. The study concerned the topic of intimate partner violence and women between the ages of 45 and 65 years. In a previous national-level study it became apparent that this group of women reported higher levels of intimate partner violence and this study, using qualitative methods in the form of individual interviews, was undertaken in order to explore this finding further. This study determined that recognition and identification of abuse and abusive situations was instrumental in relation to the previous findings and a number of recommendations,including the need for broader and wider-reaching awareness raising campaigns, and based on the findings, are developed within this interesting paper.
We hope that you will enjoy reading this issue and that the papers will provide useful information to develop practice in this area. As ever, if you want to contribute to the journal, do feel free to contact one of the editors, to discuss potential ideas and practicalities, as necessary.
