Editorial
| Date | 29 January 2025 |
| Pages | 1-3 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-02-2025-097 |
| Published date | 29 January 2025 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection,Safeguarding,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Abuse |
| Author | Bridget Penhale |
Editorial
Bridget Penhale
Welcome to the first issue of thejournal for this volume, the 27th year of our existence
and we are pleased to provide papers in this issue relating to four research studies
concerning different areas of safeguarding. The issue also contains two internatio nal
contributions reporting relevant research studies, which w e are also pleased to be able to
include.
Although much of the UK national media coverage remains focused on more globally
relevant issues such as war and climate-related crises, we have also seen recentcontinued
coverage of safeguarding-related issues in the UK. This includes those related to sexual
abuse, migration and cyberstalking, as well as human trafficking. Other safeguarding
problems occur, which seem to be related to continuing societal problems that individuals
experience but where the root causes are cumulative. These concern such aspects as
relative poverty, high levels of deprivation and the continuing cost-of-living crisis facing
many people. The results of well over a decade of austerity measures implemented by
successive governments are apparent across society. Within this spectrum, there are
continuing and repeated cuts to service provision, especially in relation to health and social
care services. This can lead to additional issues concerning the longer-term impacts of
such underfunding and structural problems with health and care services. Safeguarding-
related problems may occur for individuals, and families at least in part due to the
continuing economic and social difficultiesthat many people experience.
The first paper in this issue is by Francesca Corradini of the Catholic University of the
Sacred Heart in Milan. The paper reports on a research study concerning social work and
safeguarding. The study was undertakenin one region of Italy and was an exploratory study
of the views and experiences of social workers from Local Authority Social Services who
were working around the abuse of vulnerable adults and older people. A number of semi-
structured qualitative interviews consisting of some open questionsand discussion of cases
were held with social workers (49 interviews undertaken in total), and these were analysed.
Structural and contextual conditions were considered as well as interpersonal level
situations that arise. Some interesting and thought-provoking findings were obtained, and
these are likely to be of interest to both professionals working in safeguarding and also
policymakers and others who may be involved in the development of services and
safeguarding interventions.
This is followed by the second paper of the issue, whichis also an international contribution
provided by Kristina Kokorelias and colleagues based at the University of Toronto in
Canada. This paper also reports on recent research; this study was conducted to examine
the initiatives available and usedby police officers to support them to meet the needs of the
older adults that they are or may be in contactwith. The study consisted of a scoping review
that was undertaken to map the available initiatives that existed in relation to that area and
that were already in development or being used to improve interactions between the police
and older people. Findings from the review were then to be used to inform the further
development of a police training programme that was designed to develop age-friendly
Bridget Penhale is based at
the School of Health
Sciences, University of East
Anglia, Norwich, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JAP-02-2025-097 VOL. 27 NO. 1 2025, pp. 1-3, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203 jTHE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION jPAGE 1
Get this document and AI-powered insights with a free trial of vLex and Vincent AI
Get Started for FreeStart Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting