Neil Perkins

Partnership means protection? Perceptions of the effectiveness of multi‐agency working and the regulatory framework within adult protection in England and Wales

This article examines the effectiveness of the multi‐agency approach in adult protection and draws on findings from research that examined the effectiveness of both partnership working and perceptions of the regulatory framework to protect vulnerable adults. The research findings were collected through the use of a survey of all local councils with social services responsibilities in England and Wales. Examples of good practice in partnership working were found. However, resource pressures, insufficient information sharing and a lack of clarity about roles and responsibilities were reported to hinder a multi‐agency approach.

Select questions: considering the issues raised by a Parliamentary Select Committee Inquiry into elder abuse

This article updates a review submitted to the Department of Health (DH) in the light of the House of Commons Health Select Committee report on Elder Abuse. The review drew on recent research about elder abuse in the UK, including research published after the Select Committees hearings, that made specific recommendations for areas of development in research and policy. The aim of this paper is to address specific questions posed by the Select Committee in light of developments up to mid 2005.

Managing relations in adult protection: A qualitative study of the views of social services managers in england and wales

Collaboration or partnership between different agencies is seen as an important part of resolving problematic social issues. This article reports on findings from interviews with 32 managers working in 26 local authority social services departments that were undertaken as part of a larger study of interagency working in adult protection in England and Wales (2004–2007). Themes of managing relations, system development and prioritisation emerged from the analysis of the interviews. These findings are set in the context of developments in adult protection or safeguarding in England and Wales. The article concludes that managers perceive relationships as key in implementing aspirations for adult safeguarding, in the context of a lack of statutory obligations and sets this in the context of policy and practice.

Form and function: views from members of Adult Protection Committees in England and Wales

Little is known about the relationship between organisations charged with the protection of vulnerable adults in England and Wales. This paper investigates adult protection1 inter‐agency relationships in the context of an adult protection framework that gave local authorities the lead role and charged other agencies with working in partnership with them. The data reported are from focus groups undertaken with members of 26 Adult Protection Committees (APCs) from England and Wales during 2005‐2006. The APCs were selected using a stratified sampling frame and 271 professionals participated. Analysis revealed that participation in the local strategic decision‐making setting of the APC was influenced by the local history of partnership working, information‐sharing, affective relationships, understanding of respective roles and a shared acknowledgement of the importance of adult protection. The implications of these findings are discussed in the light of government reviews of local discretion around adult protection systems.

Modernising Adult Protection: An Inside or an Outside Job?

This article presents an analysis of modernisation as it affects adult protection in England. One of the key policy goals of modernisation has been to improve protection of service users. The article outlines some areas of good practice that are emerging and draws attention to some of the latent conflicts that are apparent.