The Tension between Mainstream Competence and Specialization in Adult Protection: An Evaluation of the Role of the Adult Protection Co-ordinator

Abstract

With the implementation of No Secrets (Department of Health, 2000), the question of how far to specialize in adult protection has been raised for social services departments. Related issues include the extent of specialization within the vulnerable adult client groups as well as between adult protection specialists and other workers. This paper draws on an evaluation of the role of the adult protection co-ordinator across two local authority social services departments (the case study) who share adult protection policies, protocols and procedures but where the specialist role has only partially been implemented and has evolved in different ways. It identifies a number of critical considerations for the local implementation of national policy, including the particular model for adult protection specialization, working relationships with district management and care management, decision making and accountability, adult protection case management and the development of mainstream competence in adult protection.