Working With Vulnerable Adults

This text provides an understanding of current professional practice in social and health care, examining abuse of vulnerable adults and the ways in which social policy, welfare services and practitioners may compound or alleviate vulnerability. Working with Vulnerable Adults develops a sound basis for understanding issues of risk, vulnerability and protection and investigates how agency policies and procedures may, often unintentionally, lead to the voice of service users being marginalised or unheard. Drawing on recent and established research about the protection of vulnerable adults, the book covers: · Social work, social care settings and vulnerable adults · The concept of abuse and adult protection · Using the law in adult protection · Professional and quality assurance issues · Assessment in social work with vulnerable adults · Dealing with and managing vulnerability, risk and abuse · Adults with mental health difficulties, long-term conditions and learning disabilities · Community abuse and asylum seekers Much contemporary social and health care practice with adults is concerned with issues of risk and protection. Working with Vulnerable Adults provides information and knowledge for students and practitioners who are interested in finding out more about this important field.

The manual is written in an accessible format with ample exercises and handouts, all designed for easy photocopying. Its great advantage is the material's transferability across all disciplines making it applicable to all professionals working with vulnerable adults. Each chapter offers an introductory discussion of a particular topic or question, such as how to identify different types of adult abuse and how to discuss and respond to a disclosure, highlighting the difficulties that may be associated with such a sensitive discussion. Her Classification of what constitutes different types of abuse in relation to differing ages, genders, ethnicities and cultures is sophisticated yet accessible, offering depth while avoiding stereotyping. In my view, this is an ideal resource for training of support workers, nurses, social workers, care managers, training officers, police officers and students of these subjects. If such training can be interagency and interprofessional, then this is likely to provide even greater benefits. - The Author, Journal compilation `...comprehensively engages with all aspects of adult protection work, from suspecting or making an allegation that abuse is happening, through to the investigation and case conference stages. It achieves comprehensiveness by including consideration of risk assessment, but manages to do this by providing materials for both basic awareness training through to more advanced and in-depth training. The resource covers specific sections of society, such as older people, younger people, black and minority ethnic people, and specialised chapters including additional training materials and case studies. The material achieves clarity in the theoretical framework and helps the participant to work through what the theory means for practice. Exercises, handouts, key learning points, case examples and suggested reading are all part of this approach.' - Leveson Centre Newsletter Working with Adult Abuse is a comprehensive training resource, which can be used by anyone who works with vulnerable adults across the sectors (statutory, voluntary and independent). It can be used by people who have a responsibility for training within any organisation, but also by any individual worker or student. The resource covers all aspects of adult protection work, from suspecting or making an allegation that abuse is happening in the community or in a communal setting through to the investigation and case conference stages, including consideration of risk assessment and the development of protection plans. In doing so, it provides materials for basic awareness training courses through to more advanced and in-depth training. Practical advice is presented within the historical context of adult abuse guidance and policy development. This is complemented by specialised chapters on the abuse of specific sections of society, such as older people, younger adults and black and minority ethnic people, which provide additional training materials and case studies. Each chapter offers an introductory discussion of a particular topic or question, such as exactly what constitutes adult abuse, how to respond to a disclosure of abuse, when to report abuse and to whom. Exercises, handouts, key learning points, case examples and suggested reading are also included. The resource, which is presented in a large A4 format, includes a wealth of photocopiable materials. This is an ideal resource for the training of social workers, care managers and workers, training officers, police officers, students of social work and those undergoing NVQ or post-qualification training.. It will also be helpful to unqualified staff such as home carers, residential staff and support workers.

Good Practice in the Law and Safeguarding Adults provides an up-to-date summary of developments in the legislative framework and best practice relevant to the area of adult protection work. It explains legislation that can be used in adult protection work, covering criminal and civil law, and crucial national guidance such as Achieving Best Evidence. Issues covered include confidentiality and information-sharing in adult protection work, capacity issues, police investigations, financial abuse, advocacy, witness support and honour-based violence. The book is illustrated throughout with case studies and good practice points. This book will be essential reading for anyone working with vulnerable adults, including health and social care workers, care managers, support workers, volunteers, advocates, police, probation staff, prison staff, lawyers training officers and students.

Addresses key problems and dilemmas in working to protect vulnerable adults - such as the elderly or those with physical disabiities - from abuse, and to support those who have already experienced abuse or neglect. Contributors make practical suggestions for working with both victims and abusers.

Good Practice in Safeguarding Adults provides an up to date and topical overview of developments in policy, guidance, legislation and practice in the area of adult protection. The book aims to broaden thinking about adult abuse, assesses alternative models of practice such as criminal justice and welfare, and covers groups who may be overlooked, such as people with brain injuries, older prisoners and adults within the black and minority ethnic communities. Issues covered include domestic violence and honour-based crime, abuse in institutions, financial abuse, and risk assessment in adult protection. The book is illustrated throughout with case studies, and also gives a voice to the victims of adult abuse who can be forgotten in a working environment that emphasises target performance, indicators, standards, star ratings, paperwork and correct use of terminology. This book will be essential reading for anyone working with vulnerable adults, including social workers, care managers, care workers, health care staff, police, probation officers, staff within the prison system, advocates, volunteers, training officers and students.

This fully-revised Second Edition looks at how practitioners and students can achieve best-practice when working with vulnerable adults. The first part of the book explores the evolution of concepts and policies for safeguarding adults, with particular reference to the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Capacity Act 2005. In the second section the focus shifts to good practice in empowering vulnerable adults. The final section focuses on developing effective professional and inter-professional practice.

In this lively introduction suitable for students at any level, Lena Dominelli explores the extraordinary scope and importance of social work. Using engaging examples from contemporary social work practice, she clearly answers questions about what social work is, how social workers work in a variety of settings and the clients they are likely to deal with. She tackles head on the dilemmas social workers face in their day-to-day work and the challenges of working with limited resources and marginalized social groups such as the elderly, the homeless and abused children. This work will affirm the valuable contribution social workers can make to human wellbeing and demonstrate how the promise and potential of social work can be, and is, realized.

The protection of vulnerable adults is a fast emerging area of work for local authorities, the NHS and other agencies. Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and the Law, sets this within a comprehensive legal framework. The relevant law and guidance is extensive. It includes Department of Health guidance (No Secrets), human rights, the regulation of health and social care providers, the barring of carers from working with vulnerable adults, care standards tribunal cases, mental capacity, undue influence, assault, battery, wilful neglect, ill treatment, manslaughter, murder, theft, fraud, sexual offences, data protection and the sharing of information. The book focuses on how these areas of law apply to vulnerable adults, and brings together an extensive body of case law to illustrate this. Also covered is how local authorities and the NHS may themselves be implicated in the harm - through abuse, neglect or omission - suffered by vulnerable adults. For example, in terms of the gross lapses in standards of care, infection control, nutrition and basic dignity sometimes to be found in hospitals. All those working in community care, adult social work, health care and housing will find this book invaluable. Local authorities, the NHS, voluntary organisations and students will find this to be essential reading.