Abstract
In similar fashion to the author, I too trained as a social worker when the concept of adult safeguarding was unknown. Similarly, the part which legislation and policy played was almost a side issue. It was with intrigue then, still as a registered social worker and academic, that I was asked to review this book which explains what adult safeguarding is, how and why it has come about and explores the application of the law and regulation that underpins this work for social workers. It also includes a welcome discussion of empirical research findings through the lens of theories of risk. As such, this book is comprehensive. It is also well written and beautifully sign posted. Using the six stages of social problems framework after Best (2013), it explicates how social problems evolve, become known and are responded to. I liked this framework very much. What I also liked was the opportunity to explore adult safeguarding from an overarching perspective on law and policy alongside a detailed explanation of its application in practice.
As a long-time proponent (and as coordinator of the UK-based social work history network 1 ) of the inclusion of the history of social work in the curriculum and of contemporary practitioners learning lessons from the past to inform their work, I was especially pleased to read about how adult protection as a social problem arose. This was primarily as a result of activism from individuals and campaigning organisations concerned about the hidden role of social work with adults deemed vulnerable and the breaking of what might be a last taboo in terms of the abuse of those adults. Whilst there is much debate about the concept of vulnerability, the fact that the wellbeing of adults and adult safeguarding is now enshrined is law is testament to such activism. However, and this is the fundamental question in this book, what does this all mean for social work practice and in particular how social workers understand and deal with risk and uncertainty. As the author indicates much of the frustration suggested by his participants is that whilst the law exists and is accompanied now by guidance, there is nonetheless a dearth of not what should be done but how.
The book is timely, not least because the role of social work in this field is becoming less hidden, as the author himself indicates. Moreover, being able to consider the application of the Care Act 2014 through the empirical data included is noteworthy. Combining an explanation of what adult safeguarding is, along with a brief tour of the historical development, this book has many strengths which should have universal appeal.
As for the detail, this book is divided into five chapters topped and tailed with an introduction and conclusion. The introduction provides a clear rationale for the book and sets the scene not only for the quality of the writing but also for the structure. Chapters 1 and 2 provide much needed contextual matter including where adult safeguarding is situated in the legislation and how this has come to be. In addition, theories of risk are explained. The author urges the reader to try to understand these theoretical underpinnings which as he contends may be painful at the outset. He nonetheless states that to understand what risk is and how it is managed is important aspect of adult safeguarding, a debate to which he returns in the conclusion, aligning research and theory in this area with his own work. The middle three chapters in the book report the author’s empirical research and give much voice to what it is to work in this field. As such, it is a welcome inclusion not often seen in books of late. Last, the author concludes with his own thoughts as to what the future might hold for adult safeguarding.
I was a little surprised given the background of the author that little mention is made of mental health legislation where arguably the decision making about risk is at its most sharp when considering deprivation of liberty. This, as with the acknowledged focus only on England, is for me a slight missed opportunity in this book which perhaps could have expanded the argument that social workers are nothing more than an agent of the state mostly now coined as care managers in an increasing resource-poor context. Are social workers therefore being set up to fail as has long been the case argued in relation to duties under mental health legislation which require principle-led practice such as least restrictive alternatives yet with ever diminishing or no resource. This for me may be the ultimate frustration of those now charged with the carrying out of duties under the Care Act 2014 and its companion the Mental Capacity Act 2005. As also mentioned, I wondered if a comparison of the development of similar social problems and responses to them by other nations in the UK would be a welcome addition and may perhaps be a suggestion for any second edition. I also looked for and could not find any in-depth discussion of how social workers deal with uncertainty other than to indicate that it is frustrating. I am sorry if I have missed this.
This book will be of interest to social work students, newly qualified social workers as well as those who have longer experience in the field. It should also appeal to those who want to have an exemplar as to how research might inform practice and to those who are interested in how policy is translated into practice.