The purpose of this paper is to comment on social work and safeguarding adults, current challenges and expectations. In particular, as the Chief Social Worker for Adults, to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to comment on social work and safeguarding adults, current challenges and expectations. In particular, as the Chief Social Worker for Adults, to acknowledge the positive impact of the “Making Safeguarding Personal” (MSP) programme.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper discusses the specific contribution of social workers to safeguarding adults.
Findings
The author identifies the connection between the core knowledge and skills requirements for social workers to the MSP approach to practice.
Research limitations/implications
The author comments on how MSP projects have contributed to develop the evidence base for social work in adult social care.
Practical implications
The paper summarises expectations for of social workers in adult safeguarding work.
Social implications
A person-centred, outcome-based approach to safeguarding adults can benefit people who have are at risk of or experience harm or abuse.
Originality/value
Views of the Chief Social Worker for Adults.
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The article seeks to analyse the potential contribution of social work to integration debates. Social work has tended to be seen as marginal to these discussions despite the…
Abstract
Purpose
The article seeks to analyse the potential contribution of social work to integration debates. Social work has tended to be seen as marginal to these discussions despite the potential of social work expertise and leadership to help forge effective approaches to joined-up care. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how social work is well positioned to help lead and support practice focused change across social care and health. It also seeks to show how professional leadership can be a powerful vehicle for changing professional and organisational cultures.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on practice and research evidence to demonstrate the proposition that social work can make a powerful contribution to debates about integration.
Findings
Three things could help build the cultural capital that is a pre-requisite to building integrated and joined-up approaches. First, the author needs to invest in developing the role of social workers and GPs working together as local professional and practice leaders. Second, there is a real risk that in any discussion about professional leadership and partnership, the author eclipses the singularly critical importance of engaging and involving users and carers in non tokenistic ways. Finally, the author needs to utilise better social work’s skills and knowledge in managing risk, building resilience and promoting social inclusion.
Research limitations/implications
Further evaluation and research is needed about the potential for GPs and social workers to develop joined-up approaches to care for and support older and disabled people.
Practical implications
Social workers need to be provided with the tools, support and space in which to develop their practice leadership role, including but not exclusively with GPs.
Originality/value
This paper does not purport to offer any specifically originally research but rather some reflections on how social work expertise might better contribute to integration debates.
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Helen Thacker, Ann Anka and Bridget Penhale
The purpose of this paper is to consider the importance of professional curiosity and partnership work in safeguarding adults from serious harm, abuse and neglect.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider the importance of professional curiosity and partnership work in safeguarding adults from serious harm, abuse and neglect.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on a range of materials including: review of published materials in relation to professional curiosity, reports from adult serious case reviews (SCRs) and safeguarding adult reviews (SARs); relevant materials drawn from the SAR Library, thematic reviews of SARs and Google searches; observations from practice and experience. It also refers to the relevant academic literature.
Findings
Lessons from SCRs and SARs show that a lack of professional curiosity and poor coordination of support can lead to poor assessments and intervention measures that can fail to support those at risk of harm and abuse. There are a number of barriers to professionals practicing with curiosity. Working in partnership enhances the likelihood that professional curiosity will flourish.
Practical implications
There are clear implications for improving practice by increasing professional curiosity amongst professionals. The authors argue that there is a scope to improve professional curiosity by utilising and developing existing partnerships, and ultimately to help reduce the number of deaths and incidents of serious harm.
Originality/value
The paper considers the importance of employing professional curiosity and partnership work in safeguarding adults’ practice, so enabling practitioners to better safeguard adults at risk of abuse and neglect.
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Jill Manthorpe, Stephen Martineau, Caroline Norrie and Martin Stevens
Opinion is divided on whether a new power of entry should be introduced for social workers in cases where individuals seem to be hindering safeguarding enquiries for…
Abstract
Purpose
Opinion is divided on whether a new power of entry should be introduced for social workers in cases where individuals seem to be hindering safeguarding enquiries for community-dwelling adults at risk in England who have decision-making capacity. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prevalence and circumstances of situations where access to an adult at risk is denied or difficult and what helps those in practice. The study consists of a literature review, a survey of adult safeguarding managers and interviews with social care staff in three case studies of local authorities. As part of the contextual literature review, during 2014 the authors located parliamentary debates on the subject and this paper reports on their analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
Following approaches were used in historical research, documentary analysis was carried out on transcripts of parliamentary debates available online from Hansard, supplemented by other materials that were referenced in speeches and set in the theoretical context of the representations of social problems.
Findings
The authors describe the content of debates on the risks and benefits of a new right to access for social workers and the role of parliamentary champions who determinedly pursued this policy, putting forward three unsuccessful amendments in efforts to insert such a new power into the Care Act 2014.
Research limitations/implications
There are limits to a focus on parliamentary reports and the limits of Hansard reporting are small but need to be acknowledged. However, adult safeguarding research has surprisingly not undertaken substantial analyses of political rhetoric despite the public theatre of the debate and the importance of legislative initiatives and monitoring.
Originality/value
This paper adds to the history of adult safeguarding in England. It also offers insight into politicians’ views on what is known/unknown about the prevalence and circumstances of the problems with gaining access to adults with capacity where there are safeguarding concerns and politicians’ views on the merits or hazards of a power of access.
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The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the signs of safety and wellbeing practice framework offers a practical and logical reinforcement for the Making Safeguarding Personal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the signs of safety and wellbeing practice framework offers a practical and logical reinforcement for the Making Safeguarding Personal programme within the practice context of the Care Act. The new practice framework orientates safeguarding practice to be person led and person centred while reinforcing an outcomes focus.
Design/methodology/approach
The principal social worker co-led the design and pilot programme where the new practice framework was developed and trialled.
Findings
A practice framework that houses the policy and practice updates needed to deliver the Care Act and Making Safeguarding Personal agenda is logical and necessary for the practitioners. An outcomes focus is encouraged because safeguarding practice is goal orientated and outcome focused.
Practical implications
A debate about how practice frameworks can help achieve the Making Safeguarding Personal approach and deliver on the Care Act principles is offered. This is a new and important debate for adult social care; a debate well-established across children’s services.
Originality/value
A debate about how practice frameworks can help achieve the Making Safeguarding Personal approach and deliver on the Care Act principles is offered. This is a new and important debate for adult social care; a debate well-established across children’s services.
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Alex Ruck Keene, Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho and Henry Gilfillan
The purpose of this paper is to outline how questions relating to capacity arise in the context of safeguarding, and when applications to the Court of Protection are required in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to outline how questions relating to capacity arise in the context of safeguarding, and when applications to the Court of Protection are required in relation to those who may lack capacity. It also seeks to provide guidance as to how applications to the Court of Protection should be made so as to ensure that they are determined effectively and in a proportionate fashion.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on the practical experience of practising barristers appearing before the Court of Protection, and on the experience of a social worker who is an MCA/DOLS lead at a London local authority. The paper proceeds by way of a review of the relevant statutory provisions, an overview of the Court of Protection and then to a practical analysis of when and how applications to the Court need to be made.
Findings
When to go to the Court of Protection in the safeguarding context is poorly understood, and there has not been proper recognition of the fact that proceedings for “adult care orders” have a strong forensic analogy with applications for care orders in relation to children. It is only by recognising these forensic similarities that local authorities can properly make use of the Court of Protection in the discharge of their obligations to vulnerable adults in their area.
Practical implications
The paper should lead to a recognition that there is a specialist “adult protection court” within the Court of Protection, and that applications for adult care orders to that court require specific and careful preparation and presentation. It will therefore lead to better use of the Court of Protection in the safeguarding context and – ultimately – a better balance between empowerment and protection of vulnerable adults who may lack capacity.
Originality/value
The paper is original in combining both legal and social work expertise to reach practical conclusions as to why such poor use has been made of the Court of Protection in safeguarding context. Its value lies in the deployment of that expertise to suggest how better use can be made in the future.
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Yung‐Chul Kwon and Leonard J. Konopa
Focuses on characteristics of a host country′s market thatinfluence a firm′s entry mode choice of exporting versus producing inthat foreign country. A survey was conducted among…
Abstract
Focuses on characteristics of a host country′s market that influence a firm′s entry mode choice of exporting versus producing in that foreign country. A survey was conducted among US manufacturers who exported a given product to one country and locally produced the same product within another country. The host country′s market characteristics were described in terms of their business environment, production factors, and competitiveness of local competitors. The hypotheses tested indicated that the level of competitiveness of local competitors and availability of local production factors have a greater impact on the firm′s entry mode choice than a host country′s business environment factors.
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In those frightening years between the two Wars and governments in France came and went with dismal frequency, it used to be said that any French Government which permitted food…
Abstract
In those frightening years between the two Wars and governments in France came and went with dismal frequency, it used to be said that any French Government which permitted food prices to rise had no chance whatever of surviving, and the result was that food was bountiful and incredibly cheap. Times have changed dramatically but not the attitude of people to the price and availibility of food and, in particular of political control; this is very much the same as always. Mostly, it revolves around the woman and what she sees as an abuse, greed and taking mean advantage of prevailing conditions and, make no mistake, this will be reflected in the political field; in the way she votes. It has happened in previous elections; it will happen in even greater degree in the next election and, although not decisive, it can have a not insignificant impact. None know better than the housewife how meaningless is the smug talk of the politicians when it comes to food prices. Their attitude may not have been the main factor in throwing out the last Conservative Government; this was undoubtedly the fear that their continuance in office would result in widespread strikes and the serious effect these upheavals have on food prices (and other household necessit ies), but the votes of woman were an unimportant contribution. As it was, it mattered little to the muscle men of the trade unions which party is in power. Women's talk around the shops and supermarket's, up and down the High Street to‐day is one long grumble and disillusionment with politicians generally.
B.Anthony Billings, Gary A. McGill and Mbodja Mougoué
This article examines the sensitivity of U.S. exports to the availability of export incentives offered under the Domestic International Sales Corporation (DISC) and the Foreign…
Abstract
This article examines the sensitivity of U.S. exports to the availability of export incentives offered under the Domestic International Sales Corporation (DISC) and the Foreign Sales Corporation (FSC) provisions of U.S. tax law. Evidence on the efficacy of export tax incentives is mixed. The history of the DISC/FSC tax incentives provides a natural experiment to address the question of the effect of tax incentives on export volume. We examine the relation of U.S. export volume to the availability of these export tax incentives from 1967 to 1998, controlling for product class and important macroeconomic variables, and find evidence of a positive association between the level of U.S. exports and the existence of the export incentives offered under the DISC/FSC provisions. However, this association depends on product type. Our findings using actual export data are independent of otherwise available data demonstrating a general growth in the use of DISC/FSC entities and the sales volume of these entities. The latter data suffer from an interpretation problem because changes in the number of special export entities used and their sales volume do not necessarily correlate with changes in actual export levels over time. The approach we use in this study is an attempt to overcome this limitation. The reported results have implications for both tax policy regarding the design of export tax incentives and the European Union’s claim that U.S. export tax incentives have damaged U.S. competitors in foreign trade.