This is a practical and trans-disciplinary guide for professionals working with vulnerable adults, who include the frail elderly, those with mental-health problems or physical disabilities, learning disabilites or serious physical illness. The contributors address key problems and dilemmas in working to protect these groups from abuse, and to support those who have already experienced abuse or neglect. They consider the procedural implications of the latest Department of Health guidance on working with vulnerable adults, and make practical suggestions for working with both victims and abusers. Highlighting the importance of inter-agency working, the contributors show how the related fields of child abuse, domestic violence and adult abuse can come together to promote increased understanding and good practice. With its emphasis on effective practice and contributions from social work, general-medical practice, criminal justice and adult protection, this collection should provide a useful resource for students, practitioners, service managers and policy makers in all sectors.
Introduction, Jacki Pritchard, Independent Trainer/Consultant/Researcher. 1. Comment on: 'No Secrets: Guidance On Developing Multi-Agency Policies and Procedures to Protect Vulnerable Adults from Abuse', Adrian Hughes, Isle of Wight Council. 2. Hard Care: The Role of an Adult Protection Unit and Co-ordinator, Mike Linnet, Gloucestershire Social Services. 3. What is Good Interviewing in Adult Abuse Work?: A police view, Steve Kirkpatrick, Thames Valley Police. 4. The Role of the General Practitioner, Iona Heath, Caversham Group Practice 5. The Role of the Medical Practitioner: A View from Australia, Registration and Inspection Officer, Adrian Hughes, Isle of Wight Council. 7. Wish We Weren't Here: A Conversation Between a Registration and Inspection Officer and a Social Worker About Abuse in Residential Settings, Janice Griffin, Registration and Inspection Officer,Sheffield City Council and Jacki Pritchard. 8. Abuse in Earlier Life: Older Women Speak Out, Jacki Pritchard. 9. Domestic Violence, Domestic Terrorism, District Judge Marilyn Mornington, Birkenhead District Registry. 10. Is it a Domestic? Or is it Adult Abuse?, Ruth Ingram, Leeds Social Services. 11. Neglect: Not Grasping the Nettle and Hiding Behind Choice, Jacki Pritchard. 12. Abuse Issues Relating to People with Mental Health Problems, Tony Ryan, North West Mental Health Development Centre. 13. Afore Ye Go - Alcohol Abuse and Older People, Mike Linnett, Gloucestershire Social Services. 14. The Role of Citizen Advocacy in Adult Abuse Work, Jane Lawson, Winchester Area Community Action. Bibliographic References. Index.
Although taking a broad view of adult abuse, rather than elder abuse, this book will be valuable to those working with older people. It is a collection of 14 chapters, in the main written by practitioners from England. The book explicitly rejects an academic style and aims to convey practitioners' experience and reflections... Its contributions will probably have broad resonance and practitioners may find key issues transferable. This book's strengths, however, lie in its span and such breadth is highly appropriate to elder abuse work.
