Editorial
| Pages | 2-3 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668203200100001 |
| Published date | 01 February 2001 |
| Date | 01 February 2001 |
| Author | Barry Wilson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
2© Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Limited The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 3 Issue 1 • February 2001
As we move closer to September 2001, the
Government-appointed date for a first review
of progress in terms of No Secrets, the
pressure increases on local authorities and
their partner agencies as they wrestle with
developing adult protection services. So how
are things going? Nobody knows in detail,
because no national monitoring exercise has
yet been commissioned. However, from
informal soundings the picture seems to be
a mixed one with most areas demonstrating
progress, but with many also experiencing
logistical and other implementation problems.
What form do these take? ‘Many’ is the short
answer, but two predominate: funding and
support.
Perhaps inevitably it is probably lack of
resources that presents the major impediment
to the rapid and easy achievement of the goals
outlined by No Secrets. So far at least, the
agencies implementing No Secrets have not
been offered any specific funding to smooth
the way. The consequences of this are being
felt in many ways, but primarily in terms of
the strategic and operational management
of adult protection services and the develop-
ment of large-scale training programmes
– both vital activities if the overall situation
is to be improved. The Journal of Adult
Protection is keen to hear about the funding
approaches that have been adopted and to
share the experience. Ideally we would like
to see a short-term action research initiative
established to investigate the options available
and methods used, to publicise achievements
and best practice.
Support and advice is the second area
where implementing agencies need help.
Getting No Secrets up and running in an
area requires considerable work in relation
to developing common understandings, inter-
locking systems and shared responsibilities
and this is a large and daunting task for many.
They need all the help they can get. A key
element here, linked to the funding issues
already touched on, is the availability of a
full-time co-ordinator or manager. But even
with such a person in post, other problems
arise; notably, how to access relevant infor-
mation and keep abreast of best practice and
new developments. A number of possible
sources of help exist already including the
Network being run as a joint initiative between
Pavilion Publishing and the Salomons Centre,
the Department of Health seminars flagged up
in the editorial of the last issue of the Journal
and the work of other adult protection
organisations and groupings. But given the
time frame for action under No Secrets and
the complexity of the issues involved, it would
be useful to have a national help service
available, ideally offering internet access.
What help would this service provide? Some
obvious areas might be details of training
events, organisations and people interested
in adult protection and examples of good
practice. In addition, the service could
develop links with all lead managers and
thus provide those wanting to contact the
implementing agencies (the Department of
Health, for example) with an easy system for
collecting information to evaluate progress.
Editorial
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