Neglect of older people in formal care settings part two: new perspectives on investigation and factors determining whether neglect has taken place
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/jap.2010.0640 |
| Date | 12 November 2010 |
| Published date | 12 November 2010 |
| Pages | 6-15 |
| Author | Lynne Phair,Hazel Heath |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
6 © Pier Professional Ltd The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 12 Issue 4 • November 2010
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Policy and practice paper
10.5042/jap.2010.0640
Introduction
Despite widespread development in safeguarding vulnerable adults
across legislation, policy, research, education and practice in recent
years, some aspects of this work remain relatively ill-defined.
Neglect in formal care settings and the nursing contribution to
multi-agency safeguarding work are two such aspects. The authors
previously identified defining attributes of neglect and highlighted
why older people are particularly vulnerable to the consequences
of neglect. The nursing contribution to multi-agency safeguarding
work was discussed in a previous paper and a model of registered
nurse involvement in health safeguarding investigations was
offered (Phair & Heath, 2010). We now turn to investigations and
how to determine if neglect has occured.
Types of investigation
Different approaches and levels of health-focused investigations
or engagement can be used to achieve different outcomes.
Neglect of older people in
formal care settings part
two: new perspectives on
investigation and factors
determining whether neglect
has taken place Lynne Phair
Clinical Advisor Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups
Act, Department of Health, UK; Independent
Nurse Advisor; and Visiting Fellow, University of
Brighton, UK
Hazel Heath
Independent Nurse Consultant for Older People,
London, UK; Honorary Senior Research Fellow,
City University, London, UK and Consultant
Editor to the
Journal of Dementia Care
abstract
This paper categorises different
types of health-focused safeguarding
investigations and offers suggestions,
particularly relevant to nurse investigators,
on how an investigation can be approached.
Suggestions are also offered on how to
conduct an investigation, where to find
information, how to conduct interviews,
writing a report and giving a professional
opinion. Criteria for determining whether
neglect has taken place in a formal care
setting are offered, alongside examples of
how these have been applied in practice.
The paper concludes with consideration
of actions that can be taken following an
investigation and some reflections on the
experience of professions involved
in safeguarding.
key words
Older people, safeguarding,
abuse, neglect, formal care settings,
nursing role
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