scholarly journals The journey from first inspection to quality standards (1857-2016): are we there yet?

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-129
Author(s):  
Martin Campbell
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Time Periods

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to qualitatively analyse the inspection and regulation of care for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems in Scotland, in two time periods. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses comparative historical research drawing on primary sources from 1857 to 1862 in the form of Annual Reports of the General Board of Commissioners in Lunacy for Scotland and associated papers, to compare inspection methods, quality standards and to identify persistent challenges to effective inspection. Findings Political, clinical and public awareness led initially to criticisms of existing care and eventually to the development of the “The Lunacy Act” of 1857. This Act resulted in the first attempts to set minimum standards of care for individuals at risk, with enforceable regulation. Some factors recur as challenges to effective practice in the inspection and regulation of care today. Practical implications There are problems of definition, reliable monitoring of quality standards and adequate, independent inspection of services that respond to unacceptable standards of care. There is a growing evidence base about best methods of inspection of services for people in care who are most at risk. These methods attempt to strike a balance between evidence- and value-based judgments. Perspectives from history may help focus resources. Originality/value This paper compares common and common challenges in two time periods to investigate what can be learned about the development of policy and practice in inspection and regulation of care.

scholarly journals Adult protection in Scotland in 1857 and in 2015: what have we learned?

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Campbell
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Protection Legislation ◽  
Adult Protection

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare recent developments in adult protection legislation, policy and practice in Scotland in 2015 with the first attempts at protection of adults at risk of harm, in 1857-1862, with a particular focus on people with learning disabilities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses comparative historical research, drawing on primary archive material from 1857 to 1862 in the form of Annual Reports of the General Board of Commissioners in Lunacy for Scotland and associated papers. Findings – Growing public awareness of the extent of neglect and abuse, and the need for overarching legislation were common factors in the development of both the “The Lunacy Act” of 1857 and the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act of 2007. Both pieces of legislation also had the common aim of “asylum”, and shared some other objectives. Practical implications – Total prevention of abuse of vulnerable adults is an aspiration in law and in policy. There is an evidence base of effectiveness, however, in protecting adults at risk of harm from abuse. Some ecological factors recur as challenges to effective safeguarding activity. These include problems of definition, uncovering abuse, enforcing legislation, evaluating impact and protection of people who are not a risk of harm to others. Originality/value – This paper compares common themes and common challenges in two separate time periods to investigate what can be learned about the development of legislation and practice in adult protection.

scholarly journals On self-neglect and safeguarding adult reviews: diminishing returns or adding value?

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Preston-Shoot
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
National Database ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Core Data ◽  
The Core

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to update the core data set of self-neglect serious case reviews (SCRs) and safeguarding adult reviews (SARs), and accompanying thematic analysis; second, to respond to the critique in the Wood Report of SCRs commissioned by Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) by exploring the degree to which the reviews scrutinised here can transform and improve the quality of adult safeguarding practice. Design/methodology/approach Further published reviews are added to the core data set from the websites of Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs) and from contacts with SAB independent chairs and business managers. Thematic analysis is updated using the four domains employed previously. The findings are then further used to respond to the critique in the Wood Report of SCRs commissioned by LSCBs, with implications discussed for Safeguarding Adult Boards. Findings Thematic analysis within and recommendations from reviews have tended to focus on the micro context, namely, what takes place between individual practitioners, their teams and adults who self-neglect. This level of analysis enables an understanding of local geography. However, there are other wider systems that impact on and influence this work. If review findings and recommendations are to fully answer the question “why”, systemic analysis should appreciate the influence of national geography. Review findings and recommendations may also be used to contest the critique of reviews, namely, that they fail to engage practitioners, are insufficiently systemic and of variable quality, and generate repetitive findings from which lessons are not learned. Research limitations/implications There is still no national database of reviews commissioned by SABs so the data set reported here might be incomplete. The Care Act 2014 does not require publication of reports but only a summary of findings and recommendations in SAB annual reports. This makes learning for service improvement challenging. Reading the reviews reported here against the strands in the critique of SCRs enables conclusions to be reached about their potential to transform adult safeguarding policy and practice. Practical implications Answering the question “why” is a significant challenge for SARs. Different approaches have been recommended, some rooted in systems theory. The critique of SCRs challenges those now engaged in SARs to reflect on how transformational change can be achieved to improve the quality of adult safeguarding policy and practice. Originality/value The paper extends the thematic analysis of available reviews that focus on work with adults who self-neglect, further building on the evidence base for practice. The paper also contributes new perspectives to the process of conducting SARs by using the analysis of themes and recommendations within this data set to evaluate the critique that reviews are insufficiently systemic, fail to engage those involved in reviewed cases and in their repetitive conclusions demonstrate that lessons are not being learned.

The relationship between the level of a corporation’s public disclosure of its managerial values and its level of organizational authenticity

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Neher ◽  
Alfred Wong ◽  
Morgan P. Miles
Keyword(s):  
Public Information ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Maturity Model ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Corporate Values ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Values ◽  
Public Corporations ◽  
Espoused Values ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to explore if corporations that publicly disclose more information about their managerial values are also more organizationally authentic in enacting these values. Design/methodology/approach A maturity model of managerial values is used that ordinally ranks a corporation’s level of managerial values enactment using corporate annual reports. The samples of corporations’ corporate reports are qualitatively content analyzed, and the outcomes are statistically tested. Findings The findings indicate that as an organization voluntarily discloses more information about its corporate values, it tends to be more likely to enact their espoused values, and their corporation’s level of organizational authenticity increases. Originality/value This study suggests an approach to benchmark a corporation’s level of organizational authenticity using public information, and by doing so, contributes to both policy and practice by offering a framework to compare organizational authenticity between public corporations by their sector, size or the age of the corporation.

Assumption, the mother of all foul ups: a fundamental reason for the continuing abuse of adults at risk

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 129-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Moore
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Partial Explanation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Fundamental Reason ◽  
English Society ◽  
Vulnerable Adults ◽  
Lay Public ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of the assumption of altruism argued by the author to be a tendency among both the lay public, professionals and politicians, a generalised assumption that contributes to the long standing and obstinate presence of abuse of adults who are at risk throughout England, particularly older people living in care and nursing homes. Design/methodology/approach By examining available figures that depict the continuing abuse of vulnerable adults, and by drawing on research, the author offers a partial explanation for the longevity of abuse in English society. Findings The paper demonstrates how the concept of the assumption of altruism can explain to a degree the apparent enduring levels of abuse of adults who are at risk. Practical implications The paper offers the opportunity for the reader to consider some of the fundamental, higher order reasons for the persistent levels of abuse in England, abuse that endures despite the oversight by government of care provided to adults who maybe at risk by virtue of the activities of the statutory regulator and health and social care commissioners. Originality/value By presenting the incontrovertible evidence of enduring abuse, the paper introduces the concept of the assumption of altruism as a partial explanation for its continuing occurrence despite decades of policy and practice guidance designed to overcome it.

scholarly journals Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Karin Ivert ◽  
Mia-Maria Magnusson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
International Research ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Refugee Minors

Purpose Organisations working with children have acknowledged that unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) across Europe are exposed to environments and situations that put them at risk for becoming addicted to drugs or becoming involved in crime. The purpose of this paper is to study an examination of existing international research concerning URM and of whether, and if so how, issues relating to drug use and criminality among these children are discussed in the international literature. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was conducted using PsycINFO, PubMed, Sociological abstracts and ERIC databases, which together cover the social and behavioural science and also medicine. Findings Findings from the present review show that the issues of drug abuse and criminality among URM are rarely acknowledged in the international research literature. When the occurrence of substance abuse and/or criminality is discussed, it is often in relation to mental health problems and in terms of self-medication, i.e. that alcohol or drugs are used by the URM to cope with painful experiences or mental health problems, and also with the challenges of integrating into a new society, difficulties finding work, unsuitable living conditions and a lack of social support. Originality/value This review shows that several researchers have emphasised that untreated mental health problems, stressful living conditions and a lack of support and control might put these children at risk for substance abuse and criminality, and this suggests a need for further research in this area.

scholarly journals Reality versus rhetoric: Assessing the efficacy of third-party hate crime reporting centres

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Wong ◽  
Kris Christmann ◽  
Michelle Rogerson ◽  
Neil Monk
Keyword(s):  
Hate Crime ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Diagnostic Facility ◽  
The Uk

The underreporting of hate crime is recognised as problematic for jurisdictions across Europe and beyond. Within the UK, the landmark inquiry report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence 25 years ago has seen governments faithfully adhering to a policy of promoting the increased reporting of hate crime. An enduring legacy of the inquiry, third-party reporting centres (TPRCs) have been equally faithfully promoted as the primary vehicle for achieving such increases. While the nations of the United Kingdom have pioneered the development of TPRCs, their function and form have been adopted in other jurisdictions, including Victoria, Australia. Nevertheless, despite their reliance on TPRCs, policymakers have given limited attention to their efficacy. The evidence from a plethora of small scale studies has consistently found that TPRCs have been limited by public awareness, capability, capacity and poor oversight difficulties. Responding to these long-standing problems, the authors have developed the first ‘TPRC assessment tool’ which offers a diagnostic facility to improve effectiveness. This paper describes the development and piloting of this tool and highlights its potential to inform policy and practice both in the UK and internationally, providing an original contribution to the limited evidence base around third-party reporting.

Supporting early learning for children under three: research and practice

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Mathers ◽  
Kathy Sylva ◽  
Naomi Eisenstadt ◽  
Elena Soukakou ◽  
Katharina Ereky-Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Effective Practice ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Expert Review ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Early Childhood Settings

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on young children's learning at home and in early childhood settings, in order to identify key caregiving practices which support the learning and development of children under three. Design/methodology/approach – Starting with well-known reviews carried out in England, the USA, Australia and New Zealand, the authors searched the literature for evidence of the developmental needs of babies and toddlers. They then drew on the psychological and educational literatures to identify key practices supporting physical development, learning and communication, using expert review to build on the scientific research in areas where evidence was sparse. Findings – The review explores three key areas of practice: play-based activities and routines; support for communication and language; and opportunities to move and be physically active. Research limitations/implications – This review is not systematic or exhaustive, but aims to integrate current evidence within these three key areas in a succinct and accessible manner. The authors recognise that there are many other dimensions of effective practice, many of which are addressed elsewhere in this special edition, as well as myriad other influences on children's development, including social, family and environmental factors. Originality/value – Worldwide, growing numbers of children under three are experiencing non-parental care in early childhood settings. In comparison to evidence for preschool children, the literature on effective practice for under-threes is sparse. Given the urgent need for information to guide policy and practice, this paper provides a starting point and calls for a multi-source approach to strengthening the evidence base.

scholarly journals Karantzas et al. (2020) COVID-19 Relationship Wellbeing & Loneliness

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gery Karantzas ◽  
Susan Chesterman ◽  
Elizabeth Ferguson ◽  
Laura Knox ◽  
Nicholas Lawless ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Stress Buffering ◽  
The Impact

It has been assumed that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted parental and family relationships due to issues including economic problems, strains of home confinement and social isolation. Despite these assumptions, there has been little research to date investigating the impact of COVID-19 stressors on parents’ relationship wellbeing and loneliness. Hence, there is an insufficient evidence base with which to guide policy or action in this most critical arena. The current study reports data from a large national representative sample (N=1,829) of Australian parents, surveyed during the early phases of the COVID-19 lockdown. Drawing on widely studied relationship models of vulnerability-stress and stress-buffering, Structural Equation Models (SEM) were derived to test the extent that COVID-19 stressors, personal vulnerabilities (mental health problems, attachment insecurity), relationship adaptation processes (constructive communication, partner support), and the interactions between these variables, predicted relationship quality and loneliness. After controlling for pre-pandemic stressors, relationship adaptations buffered the negative effects of COVID-19 stressors and personal vulnerabilities on relationship quality and loneliness. The findings provide support for a model of stress-buffering over a model of vulnerability-stress. The findings have important implications for the identification of parents at risk of relationship difficulties and social disconnection during the pandemic, and for policy and practice in how best to strengthen relationships and human connection during COVID-19.

Exploring the impact of the recovery academy: a qualitative study of Recovery College experiences

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Zabel ◽  
Grace Donegan ◽  
Kate Lawrence ◽  
Paul French
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – Recovery Colleges strive to assist individuals in their journey of recovery and help organisations to become more recovery focused. The evidence base surrounding Recovery Colleges is still in its infancy and further research is required to investigate their effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to explore the subjective experience of people involved with a Recovery College: “The Recovery Academy” based in Greater Manchester. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative study using data collected from four focus groups of Recovery Academy students who have either lived experience of mental health problems, are health professionals or are family members or carers. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings – Four main themes emerged from discussing experiences of the Recovery Academy and its courses: ethos of the Recovery Academy; personal and organisational impact; value of co-production; and barriers to engagement and impact. The Recovery Academy can have a positive impact on the lives of students who attend the courses and offer benefits to the organisation in which it is run. Originality/value – Recovery Colleges are gaining large interest nationally. However, to date there is a paucity of research on Recovery Colleges. This is the first paper to be presented for publication specifically on the Recovery Academy. The findings of this study suggest Recovery Colleges have the potential to positively impact students and facilitate recovery oriented organisational change. The findings can add valuable data to the emerging Recovery College evidence base.

scholarly journals Critical Issues in Men’s Mental Health

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 590-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Bilsker ◽  
Andrea S. Fogarty ◽  
Matthew A. Wakefield
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Male Suicide ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Male Specific

This narrative review highlights key issues in men’s mental health and identifies approaches to research, policy and practice that respond to men’s styles of coping. Issues discussed are: 1) the high incidence of male suicide (80% of suicide deaths in Canada, with a peak in the mid-50 s age group) accompanied by low public awareness; 2) the perplexing nature of male depression, manifesting in forms that are poorly recognised by current diagnostic approaches and thus poorly treated; 3) the risky use of alcohol among men, again common and taking a huge toll on mental and physical health; 4) the characteristic ways in which men manage psychological suffering, the coping strengths to be recognised, and the gaps to be addressed; 5) the underutilization of mental health services by men, and the implication for clinical outcomes; and 6) male-specific approaches to service provision designed to improve men’s accessing of care, with an emphasis on Canadian programs. The main conclusion is that a high proportion of men in Western society have acquired psychological coping strategies that are often dysfunctional. There is a need for men to learn more adaptive coping approaches long before they reach a crisis point. Recommendations are made to address men’s mental health through: healthcare policy that facilitates access; research on tailoring interventions to men; population-level initiatives to improve the capacity of men to cope with psychological distress; and clinical practice that is sensitive to the expression of mental health problems in men and that responds in a relevant manner.

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