How does leadership contribute to safeguarding vulnerable adults within healthcare organisations? A review of the literature
| Published date | 10 August 2015 |
| Date | 10 August 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-09-2014-0028 |
| Pages | 258-272 |
| Author | Emma L Stevens |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection |
How does leadership contribute to
safeguarding vulnerable adults within
healthcare organisations? A review
of the literature
Emma L. Stevens
Emma L. Stevens is a
Safeguarding Adults
Practitioner at City Health Care
Partnership CIC, Hull, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to identify aspects of leadership and evaluate their contribution to
safeguarding vulnerable adults in healthcare organisations through conducting a critical review of literature.
To identify or adapt a leadership framework to contribute to safeguarding vulnerable adults in healthcare
organisations through analysis of the literature.
Design/methodology/approach –The methodology was qualitative and inductive. It was based on
constructivism and an interpretive theoretical perspective, beginning without hypothesis. Themes emerged
during the process. A critical review of literature was undertaken to answer the research question. Literature
was sourced from a variety of health and social care databases and grey literature. All inclusions underwent
rigorous critical appraisal and a total of 18 papers were explored.
Findings –The importance of clear leadership and direction was a common theme across the majority of
sources. Aspects of leadership that can safeguard vulnerable adults in health care organisations include
organisational culture, implementation of policies, procedures and frameworks, and reinforcing strong values
and ethics around empowering individuals and delivering person-centred care. Through the meta-synthesis
of findings, a model of leadership emerged.
Research limitations/implications –The critical review utilised only one reviewer and the proposed
leadership framework has not been empirically tested.
Practical implications –The paper proposes a leadership framework that can be applied within healthcare
organisations to safeguard vulnerable adults.
Originality/value –This paper fulfils the need for evidence that supports the belief that strong leadership can
safeguard vulnerable adults. It provides a comprehensive review of existing literature in this area.
Keywords Leadership, Health, Management, Empowerment, Safeguarding, Vulnerable adults
Paper type Literature review
Hospital […] should do the sick no harm (Nightingale, 1859, p. iii).
Background
Many government health publications indicate that strong leadership is essential to safeguard
vulnerable adults (Department of Health (DoH), 2010, 2011a, 2012, 2013). Learning from serious
case reviews (Orchid View, West Sussex Adults Safeguarding Board, 2014) and serious incidents
recorded in healthcare organisations also suggest that the absence of leadership can result in poor
practice. The Francis (2010, 2013) reports into failures at Mid-Staffordshire hospitals also indicate
that leadership was inadequate and this impacted on the Trust’s ability to maintain safe services.
Received 1 September 2014
Revised 25 November 2014,
22 December 2014
Accepted 4 February 2015
Many thanks to Gill Fieldsend for
her support during the process of
this research.
PAGE258
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THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
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VOL. 17 NO. 4 2015, pp. 258-272, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203 DOI 10.1108/JAP-09-2014-0028
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