Abstract
Purpose:
Should social workers in England have a power of entry in cases where individuals seem to be hindering safeguarding enquiries for community-dwelling adults? This paper describes a re-examination of relevant sections of the 2012 Government Safeguarding Power of Entry Consultation. This re-examination was carried out as part of a policy review commissioned by the Department of Health (DH) in 2015.
Methodology
Analysis of responses to the Government’s Safeguarding Power of Entry Consultation was undertaken in late 2015-early 2016. Using NVivo qualitative data analysis software, evidence from consultation submissions was searched for information on the prevalence of the ‘hindering scenario’ and views of circumstances where a new power of entry might be considered appropriate.
Findings:
The majority of respondents to the Consultation generally reported that situations when a new power of entry would be required were not encountered regularly; however a minority of respondents stated they were more frequent occurrences. Examples of situations where third parties appeared to be hindering access were given across the different categories of adults at risk and types of abuse and current practices were described. Respondents observed that the risks of excessive or inappropriate use of any new powers needed to be
considered carefully.
Originality/value:
This re-analysis sheds light on the prevalence and circumstances of the ‘hinder scenario’ which is of interest to policy makers, researchers and practitioners.
Should social workers in England have a power of entry in cases where individuals seem to be hindering safeguarding enquiries for community-dwelling adults? This paper describes a re-examination of relevant sections of the 2012 Government Safeguarding Power of Entry Consultation. This re-examination was carried out as part of a policy review commissioned by the Department of Health (DH) in 2015.
Methodology
Analysis of responses to the Government’s Safeguarding Power of Entry Consultation was undertaken in late 2015-early 2016. Using NVivo qualitative data analysis software, evidence from consultation submissions was searched for information on the prevalence of the ‘hindering scenario’ and views of circumstances where a new power of entry might be considered appropriate.
Findings:
The majority of respondents to the Consultation generally reported that situations when a new power of entry would be required were not encountered regularly; however a minority of respondents stated they were more frequent occurrences. Examples of situations where third parties appeared to be hindering access were given across the different categories of adults at risk and types of abuse and current practices were described. Respondents observed that the risks of excessive or inappropriate use of any new powers needed to be
considered carefully.
Originality/value:
This re-analysis sheds light on the prevalence and circumstances of the ‘hinder scenario’ which is of interest to policy makers, researchers and practitioners.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 256-265 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Adult Protection |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Keywords
- Adult safeguarding
- Vulnerable adult
- Adults at risk
- Government consultation
- Power of entry
- Right of access