Social work intervention with adults who self-neglect in England: responding to the Care Act 2014

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-11-2016-0027
Date10 April 2017
Published date10 April 2017
Pages67-77
AuthorAnn Anka,Pernille Sorensen,Marian Brandon,Sue Bailey
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection,Safeguarding,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Abuse
Social work intervention with adults who
self-neglect in England: responding to
the Care Act 2014
Ann Anka, Pernille Sorensen, Marian Brandon and Sue Bailey
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on findings from an evaluative research study which looked
at a timed intervention model of practice comprising of up to 24 weeks of intensive meetings with adult
service users set up by one local authority in England, to prevent and delay the need for care and support.
A particular focus of this paper is on adults who hoard.
Design/methodology/approach The study employed a mixed-methods design, consisting of interviews
with service users (n ¼13), social workers (n¼3), social work managers (n ¼2) and stakeholders from
external services and agencies (n ¼6). It included a costing analysis of staff time and an analysis of goals of
service users and satisfaction with lifeself-report questionnaires (n ¼20), completed at pre- and post-
intervention stages.
Findings There was evidence that social workers used strengths, relationship-based and outcome-based
focused approaches in their work. The techniques used by social workers to engage, achieve change and
assess effectiveness with service users varied. These techniques included the use of photographs to enable
the service user to map and assess their own progress over time, encouraging hoarders to declutter and
reclaim their living space. The service users valued the time the social workers spent with them and the way
that they were treated with sensitivity and respect.
Research limitations/implications The study focused on one local authority in England; there was no
comparison group. This, and the small sample size, means that statistical generalisations cannot be made
and only limited conclusions can be drawn from the quantitative data.
Originality/value The paper provides insights into the work undertaken by social workers with adults who
hoard. It contributes to the body of knowledge on effective social work interventions with adults who hoard.
Keywords Neglect, Adult safeguarding, Self-neglect, Abuse, Hoarders, Social work interventions
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Social work with adults who self-neglect through hoarding presents a number of challenges for
individuals, practitioners, organisations and communities (Braye et al., 2011b, 2015; Brown and
Pain, 2014). Yet research looking at the effectiveness of social work with adults in safeguarding,
including interventions with adults who self-neglect through hoarding, is relatively scant
(Moriarty and Manthorpe, 2016; Brown and Pain, 2014; Braye et al., 2015). In England, the Care
Act 2014 has a focus on well-being, prevention and protection (Department of Health (DH),
2016). For the first time it places adult safeguarding on a statutory footing, and also includes
self-neglect in the categories of adult abuse (DH, 2016). This paper presents findings from a
study of care and support provision in one local authority in England, including for adults
who hoard. The study was commissioned by the local authority to examine an early intervention,
preventative service set up by the authority for adults falling outside the national minimum
eligibility threshold for care and support under the Care Act 2014 (DH, 2016). The research was
undertaken in 2014-2015 and was the second evaluation conducted by the same team of
researchers to follow the services development and evolution. The paper adds to the body of
Received 10 November 2016
Revised 9 February 2017
20 February 2017
Accepted 21 February 2017
This research was funded by a
local authority in England. The
findings relating to social work
intervention with adults who self-
neglect through hoarding was
presented at the Economic and
Social Research Council (ESRC)
seminar series Safeguarding
Adults and Legal Literacy(SALLY)
conference at Bournemouth
University.
Ann Anka is a Lecturer in Social
Work, Pernille Sorensen is a
Senior Research Associate,
Marian Brandon is the Director
and Sue Bailey is a Research
Fellow, all at the Centre for
Research on Children and
Families, University of East
Anglia, Norwich, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JAP-11-2016-0027 VOL. 19 NO. 2 2017, pp. 67-77, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAG E 67

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