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Purpose: This study aims to draw together what is known regarding the characteristics and context of adult family violence, and to consider what practitioners and organisations in the UK might learn from the literature. Design/methodology/approach: This study reviews literature on adult family violence and parricide and includes illustrative cases from a study of domestic homicide review reports involving older adults. Findings: Adult family violence most often involves mothers killed by their adult sons. Mental health issues, alcohol/substance misuse and criminality are common themes for perpetrators. Caregiving responsibilities is a theme for both victims and perpetrators. Previous research identified two main categories of adult family homicide: perpetrators with major psychotic illness, and victims-perpetrators in complex relational contexts. Practical implications: This study considers how practitioners respond to situations of adult family violence and learning for policymakers, agencies and practitioners. Originality/value: This paper summarises what is known, argues that more research is needed and suggests practical ways forward for policymakers, relevant agencies and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Brain Injury Case Managers (BICMs) work closely with individuals with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), assessing needs, structuring rehabilitation interventions and providing support, and have significant experience of clients with impairments to decision making. The purpose of this paper is to explore the application of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and its guidance when applied to ABI survivors. This research aimed to: first, highlight potential conflicts or tensions that application of the MCA might pose, and second, identify approaches to mitigate the problems of the MCA and capacity assessments with ABI survivors. It is hoped that this will support improvements in the services offered. Design/methodology/approach: Using a mixed method approach, 93 BICMs responded to an online questionnaire about decision making following ABI. Of these, 12 BICMs agreed to take part in a follow-up semi-structured telephone interview. Findings: The data revealed four main themes: disagreements with other professionals, hidden disabilities, vulnerability in the community and implementation of the MCA and capacity assessments. Practical implications: The findings highlight the need for changes to the way mental capacity assessments are conducted and the need for training for professionals in the hidden effects of ABI. Originality/value: Limited research exists on potential limitations of the application of the MCA for individuals with an ABI. This paper provides much needed research on the difficulties surrounding mental capacity and ABI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The issue of mental health and policing is a subject that has been debated from a number of different perspectives. The purpose of this paper is to report on the findings of a case study that explored mental health difficulties and vulnerability within police custody.Design/methodology/approach The design of the study was qualitative, and it utilised telephone, semi-structured interviews with all levels of the custody staff. This approach was taken because the aim of the study was to explore how people in different roles within the organisation worked to safeguard vulnerable people in custody.Findings The findings from this study identified a number of interesting themes that could be explored further in later studies. Overall, the respondents expressed frustration that vulnerable people find themselves in police custody for low-level crime, when it could have been avoided with improved mental health services in the community. Additionally, the findings demonstrated that despite the processes that are designed to safeguard the detainee, tensions still exist including, timely access to mental health assessments, appropriate training and support for staff and the use of appropriate adults.Research limitations/implications Although the study was small in scale, the custody facility delivered detainee facilities for about 5,000 individuals per year. The research and information obtained supported the police lead for mental health to identify opportunities for improving the customer journey, as well as recognising the need for further research to identify how officers and staff relate to vulnerable individuals in contact with the police service.Originality/value Despite the limitations of the study, the findings have captured interesting data from a range of professionals working in one police custody suite, and therefore it presents a holistic overview of some key issues around mental health, vulnerability and safeguarding within the context of police custody. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the potential impact on families of a greater emphasis on safeguarding for vulnerable adults, from both a legal and a lay perspective. Design/methodology/approach – Case examples are used to illustrate some of the issues and problems that can arise in safeguarding situations. Findings – In community settings there can be a tendency for Social Services to take an antagonistic rather than a conciliatory approach when communicating with families. In the setting of a care home, an example of the appropriate use of safeguarding is outlined. Practical implications – The authors argue that Social Services should take a more conciliatory approach and be prepared to work in partnership with families. Originality/value – The discursive format and narrative approach of this paper represents a useful and informative way of presenting important and topical insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- This paper seeks to consider the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and, in particular, the extent to which the functions of supervisory bodies can, or should be, performed as part of wider "safeguarding" responsibilities. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper reports the views of practitioners, given in response to comments made by the Care Quality Commission. Findings -- Some practitioners believe that DoLS and safeguarding functions should be consolidated, and some, that they should remain discrete; most, however, accept that the two functions should work closely together, and also that an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act is important for each; there is a suspicion that DoLS-activity is greatest where the two functions are kept discrete (and, it is assumed, DoLS practitioners therefore have more to prove); there is also concern about financing, particularly within discrete DoLS services, and, furthermore, some suspicion about the whole business of "safeguarding"; the Neary case continues to cast a long shadow. Originality/value -- This is believed to be the first time practitioners' views have been sought or at least published on this question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of the paper is to report the findings of a small scale indicative research project. The project explores the assessment of detained persons in police custody by Forensic Physicians (FP). Design/methodology/approach -- A range of information was collected in every case where custody staff had identified a mental health concern and requested an FP assessment. As well as information about demographic factors, this would include questions regarding any links that the individuals had with community-based mental health services. As well as this information, anonymous custody records and force adverse incident records for the month were examined. Findings -- In the month of the project, 59 FP assessments were requested. Only six members of this group had any contact with community-based mental health services: two with a social worker , two with a CPN and two with a psychiatrist. Of this group, three had not been in contact with mental health services for over a month. Research limitations/implications -- The size of the cohort and variety of arrangements for providing nursing and social care support in custody settings may limit the generalisation of the findings. Practical implications -- This study highlights that there is a group of individuals whose mental health causes concern to the police in a custody environment. In this study, the overwhelming majority of the group have no contact with mental health services. The research supports the recommendations of the Bradley Review for wider health care provision in custody settings. Originality/value -- The paper highlights that fully effective community mental health services need to consider police custody settings as a key point for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Commissioned as part of a Joseph Rowntree Foundation scoping programme, this consultation aims to explore the views of disabled people and service users about risk. Design/methodology/approach – The consultation reached nine individuals and one focus group, reaching a total of 17 disabled people and service users. Their views were supplemented by the literature. Findings – The landscape of risk and rights is highly complex. Disabled people and service users have quite different concerns about risk to those of the professionals and the regulatory bodies acting on their behalf. Many people talked of the fear of losing their independence, of asserting their rights and the fear of powerlessness in the face of bureaucracy and (sometimes) uncaring staff. Research limitations/implications – The profile of rights needs to be raised in an accessible and acceptable way: it is necessary to make the language of rights more commonplace. There is a particular need to reach into mental health and residential care services to find ways of enabling people to have their rights realised. The report has implications for risk assessment and risk management as well as for the regulatory bodies responsible in adult social care. Raising awareness among professionals and policy makers about the risks that service users themselves fear and experience should demonstrate just how important it is that the people whose risk is under consideration are involved in the process. Originality/value – This paper highlights the views of users of adult social care about risk; their views have rarely been documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- A schema for more clearly understanding the emotional and psychological abuse and neglect of people with intellectual disability was developed to support a narrative study with people with intellectual disability, families and other supporters about the lived experience of this maltreatment in disability accommodation services in Australia. This paper aims to describe the underpinning review of emotional and psychological abuse and neglect and the evolving new framework. Design/methodology/approach -- A review of existing understandings of this form of abuse in research and policy was conducted, and a framework developed and tested for "trustworthiness" with participants in the research. Findings -- A framework of emotional and psychological abuse and neglect is presented. It centres on the misuse of power and control, details behaviours and interactions which can occur when it is inflicted, and is tested against the experiences of people who have experienced this sort of abuse and neglect. Research limitations/implications -- This is an evolving framework, applied through one study only. Further application and research is needed to test the robustness of the framework. Originality/value -- A more complex construction of emotional and psychological abuse and neglect may inform the development of service policy and support education for people with disability, families, and workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The custody environment is not designed nor can it hope to meet the needs of individuals who are experiencing acute mental distress. The article reports the findings of analysis of the recorded incidents of self-harm that occurred in the custody of one English police force during an eight-month period in 2006. There were 168 such incidents in this period. The ratio of male/female detained persons, who harmed themselves was 3:1. The most common method used was a ligature either from the detained person's own clothes or the paper suits that are used in custody. Alcohol or substance misuse was identified as a clear risk factor. The police response is analysed and recommendations made for improved access to health care for those in custody. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The draft Mental Health Bill 2004 proposes transfer of the main monitoring functions of the Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC) to the Healthcare Commission (or in practice whatever body succeeds the Healthcare Commission) with the abolition of the MHAC on implementation of the Bill when enacted. This paper describes the present role and remit of the Mental Health Act Commission, outlines the government's strategy on inspection and regulation and identifies the importance of protecting the rights of vulnerable adults and children with mental disorders. The reasons for retaining independent scrutiny and inspection of mental health services are explored and structures and mechanisms that might assist in achieving an effective regulatory environment are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the clinical interventions used to address the vulnerability of people with intellectual disabilities to sexual abuse. Prevalence of sexual abuse for this group is discussed. Factors that are considered to put people with intellectual disabilities at an increased risk of sexual abuse are also discussed. As the teaching of protection and prevention skills to adults and children with intellectual disabilities has been put forward as an effective intervention to help avoid sexual abuse, a review of nine studies that attempted to evaluate such intervention programmes is carried out. It is concluded that adults with intellectual disabilities can successfully be taught skills to prevent and protect themselves from sexual abuse. However, issues around the generalisation and the maintenance of acquired skills have to be considered. Recommendations for future research are made. Finally, the clinical implications of the results of this review are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]