Assumption, the mother of all foul ups: a fundamental reason for the continuing abuse of adults at risk
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-04-2018-0008 |
| Pages | 129-143 |
| Date | 13 August 2018 |
| Published date | 13 August 2018 |
| Author | Steve Moore |
Assumption, the mother of all foul ups:
a fundamental reason for the continuing
abuse of adults at risk
Steve Moore
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of the assumption of altruism argued by the
author to be a tendency among both the lay public, professionals and politicians, a generalised assumption
that contributes to the long standing and obstinate presence of abuse of adults who are at risk throughout
England, particularly older people living in care and nursing homes.
Design/methodology/approach –By examining available figures that depict the continuing abuse of
vulnerable adults, and by drawing on research, the author offers a partial explanation for the longevity of
abuse in English society.
Findings –The paper demonstrates how the concept of the assumption of altruism can explain to a degree
the apparent enduring levels of abuse of adults who are at risk.
Practical implications –The paper offers the opportunity for the reader to consider some of the
fundamental, higher order reasons for the persistent levels of abuse in England, abuse that endures
despite the oversight by government of care provided to adults who maybe at risk by virtue of the activities of
the statutory regulator and health and social care commissioners.
Originality/value –By presenting the incontrovertible evidence of enduring abuse, the paper introduces the
concept of the assumption of altruism as a partial explanation for its continuing occurrence despite decades
of policy and practice guidance designed to overcome it.
Keywords Preventing abuse, Abuse of adults at risk, Contract monitoring and abuse, Enduring abuse,
Regulation and abuse, Safeguarding policy change
Paper type Conceptual paper
We hold these truths to be self-evident
Guidance issued during 2017 by the Department of Health on the implementation of the Care Act
2014 clearly identifies the protection of people from abuse and neglect as a means of promoting
their wellbeing as a duty incumbent upon all local authorities (Department of Health, 2017:
paragraphs 1.5 and 4.102), and further instructs them to promote quality services through their
contracting functions (2017: paragraph 4.0). In so doing, the Department of Health is reaffirming
the long standing guidance contained within “No Secrets: Guidance on developing and
implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse”
(Department of Health, 2000) and reiterating one of the fundamental purposes of the
commissioning and contracting activities of local authorities brought into being 28 years ago by
Yet following the publication of the most recent figures from NHS Digital in November 2017 to
add to those of five previous annual periods from the NHS Information Centre (2013), The Health
and Social Care Information Centre (2014a, b, 2015) and NHS Digital (2016), it is evident that
abuse continues to be perpetrated in people’s own homes, in care homes and in hospitals.
Notably, the figures confirm that levels of abuse have remained very constant, particularly that
occurring in care and nursing homes from where 36 per cent of all safeguarding enquiries have
Received 23 April 2018
Revised 18 July 2018
Accepted 27 July 2018
Steve Moore is an Independent
Researcher and Consultant
based in Dudley, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JAP-04-2018-0008 VOL. 20 NO. 3/4 2018, pp. 129-143, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAG E 12 9
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