Safeguarding Adults for Empowerment V.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Safeguarding Adults for Empowerment (SAFE) : A qualitative study to develop best practice for involving older people in adult safeguarding processes
IRAS ID
329360
Contact name
Sarah Lonbay
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sunderland
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Adult safeguarding (AS) aims to protect “adults at risk” from abuse and neglect, but initially lacked a person-centred approach. Under the Care Act 2014 an initiative called Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) aimed to address this, but challenges remain, including:
• lack of professional understanding;
• limited research including the voices of older people;
• limited understanding of the concept of safety.The aim of this research is to improve adult safeguarding for older people by addressing gaps in the understanding and implementation of MSP. This will be achieved through understanding of the experiences of older people, family members, and social care leaders and practitioners.
The research will use arts-based methods to explore the concept of safety with older people (aged 65+) who have care and support needs. We will also interview older people who have experienced adult safeguarding, and family members, to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences. Interviews will also be conducted with advocates and social workers to examine how MSP is used in practice. Focus groups with social workers and co-production events will bring together various stakeholders to discuss the research findings and collaboratively develop responses.
The research team consists of academics, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience, who will work collaboratively throughout the project.
Dissemination of findings will be through practice guidance, a toolkit for evaluating practice, conferences, publications, and research blogs. The aim is to reach leaders in health and social care, practitioners, older adults, family members and the public through various channels.
By including the perspectives of older people and key stakeholders, this research seeks to improve adult safeguarding by making it more responsive to older people’s needs and by addressing gaps in understanding and implementation of MSP. The findings and outputs of the research will contribute to better practices in safeguarding older people from abuse and neglect.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/WM/0165
Date of REC Opinion
25 Sep 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion