A Critical Analysis of Adult Safeguarding Practices in NHS Mental Health Services

The abuse and neglect of adults at risk is increasingly recognised as a social problem in the U.K. Policy development for the protection of at risk adults has seen substantial growth since the publication of the No Secrets (2000) guidance. Despite cumulative evidence that NHS mental health services have been slow to engage with the national adult safeguarding agenda, there is a paucity of research in this area. The aim of this doctoral research was to explore and critically analyse the use and implementation of adult safeguarding practices in NHS mental health services.

A Grounded Theory (GT) approach was adopted to develop theory inductively through data collection and analysis. A total of sixteen participants were interviewed from within three NHS mental health trusts, including: 10 (62%) strategic leaders foradult safeguarding and 6 (38%) operational personnel. The results revealed three conceptual components central to the implementation of adult safeguarding in mental health, namely: establishing structures, processes and procedures; challenges to effective implementation; and transition to a progressive future.

Barriers invariably hamper the establishment of effective adult safeguarding practice within services, some of which are specific to mental health contexts. The findings of this research demonstrate a need for the development of multi-dimensional strategies that anticipate the contingencies of service contexts with greater consideration of the factors that inevitably impact adults at risk in mental health services.