From reactionary to activist: a model that works
| Date | 08 April 2014 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-05-2013-0019 |
| Published date | 08 April 2014 |
| Pages | 113-119 |
| Author | Celia Harbottle,Maria R. Jones,Lee M. Thompson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection |
From reactionary to activist: a model
that works
Celia Harbottle, Maria R. Jones and Lee M. Thompson
Dr Celia Harbottle is
a Freelance Lecturer,
based at, Morpeth, UK.
Maria R. Jones is a Company
Director, based at Orchard
Care (NE) Ltd, Durham, UK.
Lee M. Thompson is a
Strategic Manager –
Safeguarding and Professional
Practice, based at South
Tyneside Borough Council,
South Shields, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to invite readers to consider a model of compassionate leadership
to contribute to the prevention of abuse in collective care settings.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines a model of leadership based on theories of
attachment and parenting and draws on evidence from practice. The framework, which we call Total
Attachment, originated in a foster care organisation which was designed around the approach as a way of
supporting carers to care for children who were, largely deemed as unfosterable. It explores literature
examining workplace culture and the potential for detachment as workers try to survive their employment.
It then offers an approach which has been adopted by a Safeguarding Adults partnership to implement a
prevention framework into collective care settings for older people. This has placed Total Attachment at the
heart of its promotion of compassionate care giving.
Findings – Consultation from the launch of the prevention framework indicated that Total Attachment had a
resonance with providers and was readily understood and its value, tangible as a whole systems approach
to enabling compassionate caring. The efficacy of the model in supporting workers to be resilient and
effective is quantified by data from the foster organisation.
Research limitations/implications – Total Attachment draws on transference of practice learning and
experience across life span services. Attachment theory is largely considered a framework informing child
care, however, this model recognises the attachment story across the life span.
Practical implications – This model shows how compassionate care can be led rather than simply taught;
how carers and workers can be shown a way of working that connects deeply with their own need for care
giving and care seeking.
Originality/value – This paper shares creative, innovative practice that can be implemented in services
across the life span. It offers a model for leading compassionate care in a whole systems approach with an
evidence base of its efficacy.
Keywords Leadership, Prevention, Safeguarding, Adult attachment, Compassionate care
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
Since Safeguarding Adults (ADSS, 2005) gave us a framework and standards on which to base
safeguarding policy, policy makers have striven to create contexts to promote safety and
wellbeing. Williams (2011), together with our own observations and experiences, leads us to
believe that these efforts to create safer contexts have struggled in achieving their intended aim.
Specifically,what we meanby this is that reactive cultures have emerged(Hewitt, 2013). In order
to progress, and continue our journey towards better outcomes for adults at risk, we
respectfully suggest that it is time to give rise to a more active rather than the reactionary
approach in order to achieve this goal.
This paper aims to present a fusion of practice-based evidence as a framework for leadership to
counter a culture of reactivity with regard to the safeguarding agenda. The development of this
approach is a move to a more proactive position which means to set aside blame, judgement
and disappointment when things go wrong in the people who are paid to care, the places they
DOI 10.1108/JAP-05-2013-0019 VOL. 16 NO. 2 2014, pp. 113-119, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAGE 113
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