Media reactions to the Panorama programme “Behind Closed Doors: Social Care Exposed” and care staff reflections on publicity of poor practice in the care sector
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-03-2016-0005 |
| Date | 10 October 2016 |
| Published date | 10 October 2016 |
| Pages | 266-276 |
| Author | Jill Manthorpe,Esther Njoya,Jess Harris,Caroline Norrie,Jo Moriarty |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection,Safeguarding,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Abuse |
Media reactions to the Panorama
programme “Behind Closed Doors:
Social Care Exposed”and care staff
reflections on publicity of poor practice
in the care sector
Jill Manthorpe, Esther Njoya, Jess Harris, Caroline Norrie and Jo Moriarty
Jill Manthorpe is a Professor of
Social Work at the Social Care
Workforce Research Unit, King’s
College London, London, UK.
Esther Njoya is based at Social
Care Workforce Research Unit,
King’s College London,
London, UK.
Jess Harrisis a Research
Associate,Caroline Norrie is a
Research Fellow and Jo Moriarty
is a Senior Research Fellow, all
at the Social Care Workforce
Research Unit, King’s College
London, London, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of media reactions to the BBC Television
Panorama programme, Behind Closed Doors’and to set this in the context of interviews with care staff about
their reflections on publicity about poor practice in the care sector.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper reports on an analysis of media reactions to recent exposé of
abuse in social care in England and data from an interview-based study of care workers. The interviews were
analysed to consider the impact of such media reports on staff and to explore their views of action that might
be need to be taken about care failings.
Findings –There are mixed reactions to exposé of poor care on television and to the debates that precede
and follow their broadcast. Debates occur in print and on television, but also in social media. The particular
exposé of care home practices by the Panorama programme, Behind Closed Doors, led to debate in England
about the potential role of covert cameras in care homes. The interviews revealed that while care staff are
affected by scandals in the media about social care, they do not necessarily focus on themes that the media
stories subsequently highlight. Overall some are disenchanted while others have ideas of what needs to
change to improve practice. Care staff consider that there remain problems in raising concerns about
practices and some staff feel unable to stay in workplaces where they have made complaints.
Research limitations/implications –The care workers interviewed may not be representative of the
sector and they may have wished to provide socially acceptable answers to the researchers. Practice was
not observed.
Practical implications –Local Safeguarding Adult Boards may wish to develop a communications
strategy to deal with requests for reactions to media reports locally and nationally. Safeguarding
practitioners may wish to prepare for increased referrals following media coverage of poor care in their
areas. They may later be a ble to use media reports to discuss any local di fferences of interpretation over
matters such as prosecuti ons for abuse. Trainers and e ducationalists may wish to clarify the importanc e
given by care providers t or aising concerns, the ways in which diffic ult conversations can be held, and the
protections availabl e to whistle-blowers or t hose raising concerns –with local examples to provide
assurance that this is not mere rhetoric.
Originality/value –Television reports of problems with social care attract wide media interest but the
authors know very little about how care workers respond to depictions of their work and their occupational
grouping. This paper links media and expert commentator reactions to television exposé with data acquired
from interviews with those on the frontline of care.
Keywords Older people, Media, Care homes, Safeguarding, Care workforce, Scandals
Paper type Research paper
Received 26 March 2016
Revised 14 July 2016
25 July 2016
Accepted 15 August 2016
The authorsare most grateful toall
who participa ted in this research,
the interviewers, andthe wider
researchteam who include Shereen
Hussein,Michelle Cornes, Martin
Stevens,Stephen Martineau and
Janet Robinson. This research was
part fundedunder the Department
of Health’sPolicy Research
Programmesupport for the Social
Care Workforce Research Unit and
formed part of a Master’s
dissertation undertakenat King’s
CollegeLondon by Esther Njoya,
supervisedby Jill Manthorpe.
PAGE266
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THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
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VOL. 18 NO. 5 2016, pp. 266-276, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203 DOI 10.1108/JAP-03-2016-0005
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