Adult safeguarding and the Care Act (2014) – the impacts on partnerships and practice
| Date | 14 August 2017 |
| Published date | 14 August 2017 |
| Pages | 209-219 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-03-2017-0009 |
| Author | Adi Cooper,Claire Bruin |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection,Safeguarding,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Abuse |
Adult safeguarding and the
Care Act (2014) –the impacts
on partnerships and practice
Adi Cooper and Claire Bruin
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to look at the impacts on adult safeguarding partnerships
and practice over 18 mont hs following the impleme ntation of the Care Act (20 14) from the perspective s
of an independent Chair of two Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs) and a senior manager in adult social
care in a local authority. They look at the areas of: wellbeing and safety, safeguarding activity and process,
changing criteria and definitions, Making Safeguarding Personal, SABs, safeguarding adult reviews
and advocacy.
Design/methodology/approach –The authors draw together information from published sources,
experience and networks.
Findings –The paper argues that the impact on adult safeguarding and SABs has been greater than
originally envisaged in a range of areas. This appears to be as a result of adult safeguarding having
been made statutory, a new framework having been put in place, and added impetus given to a cultural
change in adult safeguarding practice.
Originality/value –The authors have been engaged in delivering the adult safeguarding elements of the
Care Act (2014) and so provide unique insight into the experience of making the changes required to meet the
new statutory requirements and achieve the objective of protecting peoples’rights to live in safety, free from
abuse or neglect.
Keywords Safeguarding, Adult safeguarding, Making Safeguarding Personal, Safeguarding adult reviews,
Care Act (2014), Safeguarding Adults Boards, Wellbeing and safeguarding
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
This paper is based on a presentation to the Economic and Social Research Council Seminar on
“Safeguarding Adults: A New legal Framework”held on 22 September 2016 at the University of
Bedfordshire. The seminar explored differing UK perspectives from the four nations. We looked
at how the Care Act (2014) was working in England 18 months on from its implementation.
We asked: “What is the impact and what are the strengths and weaknesses in the way the Care
Act (2014) is being implemented; and what else is there still to do regarding adult safeguarding
and Safeguarding Adults Boards?”This paper covers the areas of: wellbeing and safety; activity
and process; changing criteria and defini tions; Making Safeguarding Persona l (MSP);
Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs); statutory safeguarding adult reviews (SARs); and
advocacy in safeguarding. We have looked at the impact of the Care Act (2014) on adult
safeguarding from our perspectives as an independent chair of two SABs and a senior manager
in a local authority. Our perspectives are also informed by access to a range of networks at local,
regional and national levels, including the Association of Directors of Adults Social Services
(ADASS) and National Network of Chairs of SABs. We are aware that this is limited and does not
consider a broader range of perspectives such as service user, carer, provider or frontline
practitioner, which were beyond our remit.
Received 6 March 2017
Revised 10 May 2017
16 May 2017
Accepted 19 May 2017
Adi Cooper is a Consultant at
Adult Social Care and
Safeguarding, London, UK.
Claire Bruin is the Service
Director at the Department of
Adults and Older People,
Cambridgeshire County
Council, Cambridge, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JAP-03-2017-0009 VOL. 19 NO. 4 2017, pp. 209-219, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAG E 20 9
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