An evaluation of adult safeguarding outcomes’ focused recording in the context of Making Safeguarding Personal

Pages240-248
Date08 August 2016
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-09-2015-0027
Published date08 August 2016
AuthorMatthew Gough
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection
An evaluation of adult safeguarding
outcomesfocused recording in the
context of Making Safeguarding Personal
Matthew Gough
Matthew Gough is a Principal
Lecturer at the School of Social
Sciences, Nottingham Trent
University, Nottingham, UK.
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact in one local authority of Making Safeguarding
Personal (MSP) upon the recording of outcomes in safeguarding interventions. To determine to what extent
person centred outcomes were in evidence.
Design/methodology/approach Analysis of data provided by the local authority across adult
safeguarding teams informed by a critical theory approach.
Findings There is a need for cultural and system change to fully embed MSP principles within local
authority safeguarding. This case study identified that practitioner recording was inconsistent with the need
for greater recognition of person centred approaches within adult safeguarding. Views of the service user are
constructed and moderated by the assessing professional and the user voice is seldom evident in recording
of safeguarding interventions.
Research limitations/implications This study was wholly reliant upon the data provided rather than
primary investigations with practitioners and service users. The focus on recorded data permitted variance
and recorded data were open to worker interpretation. MSP. The starting premise of the methodology by
adopting a critical perspective sought to elevate the perspective of marginalised service user groups. This
may have unduly framed the practitioner provider from a deficit position.
Practical implications The need to ensure MSP approaches are embedded fully in all aspects of local
authority safeguarding. There is a need for recording to greater reflect principles of empowerment with the
wishes of service users, their narratives and actual words providing greater weight to assessment.
Social implications The power shifts apparent in the principles supporting The Care Act needed to be
embedded in safeguarding to support marginalised adults.
Originality/value MSP is a relatively new development for safeguarding adults and the evidence base is
building. This paper focuses on the recorded outputs of safeguarding interventions which complements work
already produced which has focused on system and strategic changes.
Keywords Assessment, Safeguarding, Making Safeguarding Personal, Outcomes, Mental capacity,
Adult services
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) is a developmental project for safeguarding adults
established by collaboration between the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and
the Local Government Association based on pilot studies with local authorities adopting different
processes to make safeguarding adults more outcome focused and person centred as opposed
to being procedurally driven (Lawson et al., 2014). The MSP final report (LGA et al., 2013)
acknowledged the importance of multi-faceted approaches such as family conferences,
outcome focused assessment, workforce training and development as well as quality assurance
Received 28 September 2015
Revised 19 February 2016
18 March 2016
Accepted 21 April 2016
PAGE240
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
VOL. 18 NO. 4 2016, pp. 240-248, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203 DOI 10.1108/JAP-09-2015-0027

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT