Social work intervention with adults who self-neglect in England: responding to the Care Act 2014

Anka, Ann ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7572-7317, Sorensen, Penny, Brandon, Marian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1654-1819 and Bailey, Sue (2017) Social work intervention with adults who self-neglect in England: responding to the Care Act 2014. Journal of Adult Protection, 19 (2). pp. 67-77. ISSN 1466-8203

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Abstract

Purpose – The paper reports on findings from an evaluative research study which looked at a timed intervention model of practice comprising of up to 24 weeks of intensive meetings with adult service users set up by one local authority in England, to prevent and delay the need for care and support. A particular focus of this paper is adults who hoard. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a mixed-methods design, consisting of interviews with service users (n=13); social workers (n=3); social work managers (n=2); and stakeholders from external services and agencies (n=6). It included a costings analysis of staff time and an analysis of service users’ goals and of ‘satisfaction with life’ self-report questionnaires (n=20), completed at pre- and post-intervention stages. Findings – There was evidence that social workers used strengths, relationship-based and outcome-focused approaches in their work. The techniques used by social workers to engage, achieve change and assess effectiveness with service users varied. These included the use of photographs to enable the service user to map and assess their own progress over time, encouraging hoarders to declutter and reclaim their living space. The service users valued the time the social workers spent with them and the way that they were treated with sensitivity and respect. Research limitations/implications – The study focused on one local authority in England; there was no comparison group. This, and the small sample size, means that statistical generalisations cannot be made and only limited conclusions can be drawn from the quantitative data.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work
Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Psychology
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Fathers, Families and Work (former - to 2017)
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Child Protection & Family Support
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Research on Children and Families
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 09 Mar 2017 01:42
Last Modified: 14 Jun 2023 12:54
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/62920
DOI: 10.1108/JAP-11-2016-0027

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