Participatory rights of older adults at risk in adult protection case conferences

Fennell, Kate

Abstract

Purpose
The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 (ASP Act) mandates public bodies to investigate situations of harm and to support and protect adults at risk. One of the fundamental principles of the legislation is to involve the person in the adult protection process. Older people are highly represented among those defined as adults at risk and have the right to participate in decisions about their lives. However, contextual factors can impact participatory parity, and participation can be tokenistic. Drawing on the author’s practice experience, this paper aims to explore the supports and barriers to meaningful participation in adult protection.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on practice during the first decade of the ASP Act, this paper uses amalgamated scenarios involving older adults at risk to illustrate some of the key themes emanating from literature.

Findings
Despite Human Rights Conventions and law promoting participatory principles, research evidence and practice experience suggests that ethical principles do not always translate to practice. Within adult protection case conferences (APCCs), participation is nuanced and multifaceted, involving individual and structural facilitators and impediments. APCCs can be inhospitable environments for the adult at risk. But they also have the potential to be collaborative and supportive spaces, promoting the person’s self esteem and agency. The author plans to conduct research with service users and practitioners exploring the extent to which APCCs can facilitate meaningful participation.

Originality/value
This paper contributes to the wider debate about the participatory rights of service users and the value of experiential knowledge.

Citation

Fennell, K. (2023). Participatory rights of older adults at risk in adult protection case conferences. Journal of Adult Protection, 25(3), 132-142. https://doi.org/10.1108/jap-11-2022-0031

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 3, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Mar 27, 2023
• Publication Date: Jul 28, 2023
• Deposit Date: Apr 26, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 26, 2023
• Print ISSN: 1466-8203
• Electronic ISSN: 2042-8669
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 132-142
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/jap-11-2022-0031
• Keywords: Participation, Older people, Adult protection, Adult safeguarding, Adults at risk of harm, Adult support and protection, Adult protection case conferences