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Abstract
Despite its popularity, relatively little is known about strengths-based approaches in adult social work. In order to explore how strengths-based models and approaches are developed and implemented in social work and social care in England, and how these models are impacting practice, a two-stage project was conducted between December 2020 and October 2021. An online survey was completed by thirty-two respondents and a sub-sample of ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with social work and social care professionals involved in organising, managing, delivering or commissioning strengths-based approaches. The majority of participants were social workers. A range of positive outcomes were reported including improved reported well-being and satisfaction for people accessing services and enriched interactions (greater empathy, trust, better rapport), particularly for social workers. Challenges included incompatibility of systems and organisational structures; workload pressures and a depleted workforce; limited resources and applying the model at crisis point. The principles and values associated with adopting a strengths-based approach appear consistent with providing high-quality social work. The challenge for researchers—and to some extent practitioners—is how to meaningfully capture the nuanced impact of such a multi-dimensional approach. The challenge for policy is how to operationalise and replicate the benefits.

This article draws on the findings of the EU Framework 7 project DISCIT to explore the living situation of people with disabilities a decade after the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in nine European countries representing different welfare state models and different stages in the process of deinstitutionalisation. A review of the research literature, policy and available statistics was combined with interviews with key informants in each country to explore the current living situation, changes over time and the barriers to, and facilitators for change. The article focuses in particular on whether people are experiencing opportunities for social inclusion on an equal basis with others. Although a lack of available data hampered conclusions on living situation, it was clear that there had been some change in terms of policy and funding streams available to support community living. Some countries had moved slightly towards community living, while others reported more people in institutions or the development of bigger services in the community. There was evidence of continued inequality in the living situation and full inclusion of people with disabilities, with those with intellectual disability and psychosocial disabilities being the most affected. In terms of barriers (and consequently facilitators) there were three sources: 1) policy, 2) social care and support systems, and 3) awareness, attitudes and advocacy. The need to involve people with disabilities in policymaking and the need for a co-ordinated approach between all actors in the disability sector was seen as critical for achieving further change.

Agricultural sustainability (AS) is a key component in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Despite wide use of the concept in both research and policy, there is still not a universally accepted method for its measurement. This research proposes using item response theory (IRT) to generate a farm-level AS index. The thesis is comprised of three scientific articles: The first article develops and tests the IRT model design, second applies the model to the sustainability of non-food crop production in the context of the bioeconomy, and the third looks into the sustainability of organic versus conventional farms. The key findings of the research are that (1) constructing an AS index with IRT may be a suitable alternative to existing methods, (2) farms producing a combination of non-food crops with food crops are more sustainable on average than those not producing non-food crops, and (3) organic farms are more sustainable on average than conventional farms.

Agricultural sustainability (AS) is a key component in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Despite wide use of the concept in both research and policy, there is still not a universally accepted method for its measurement. This research proposes using item response theory (IRT) to generate a farm-level AS index. The thesis is comprised of three scientific articles: The first article develops and tests the IRT model design, second applies the model to the sustainability of non-food crop production in the context of the bioeconomy, and the third looks into the sustainability of organic versus conventional farms. The key findings of the research are that (1) constructing an AS index with IRT may be a suitable alternative to existing methods, (2) farms producing a combination of non-food crops with food crops are more sustainable on average than those not producing non-food crops, and (3) organic farms are more sustainable on average than conventional farms.

Background: With increasing reductions in funding for social care across many countries, the need to ensure that resources are used to best effect is becoming increasingly important, in particular for those with severe and complex needs. Methods: In order to explore the outcomes and costs of skilled support for this group of people, quality of life was assessed for 110 people in 35 services in England. Information on costs was also collected. Results: People who received consistently good active support experienced better outcomes in terms of several quality of life domains. Good support did not require significantly more staff time, and there was no evidence of higher total costs for those receiving good support. Conclusions: The inclusion of active support in government guidance and local commissioning practices related to people with severe intellectual disabilities is likely to improve user outcomes. Observation should be an important element in measuring service quality.

AbstractBackgroundWith increasing reductions in funding for social care across many countries, the need to ensure that resources are used to best effect is becoming increasingly important, in particular for those with severe and complex needs.MethodsIn order to explore the outcomes and costs of skilled support for this group of people, quality of life was assessed for 110 people in 35 services in England. Information on costs was also collected.ResultsPeople who received consistently good active support experienced better outcomes in terms of several quality of life domains. Good support did not require significantly more staff time, and there was no evidence of higher total costs for those receiving good support.ConclusionsThe inclusion of active support in government guidance and local commissioning practices related to people with severe intellectual disabilities is likely to improve user outcomes. Observation should be an important element in measuring service quality.

AbstractBackgroundActive Support, now widely adopted by disability support organizations, is difficult to implement. The study aim was to identify the factors associated with good Active Support.MethodsData on service user and staff characteristics, quality of Active Support and practice leadership were collected from a sample of services from 14 organizations annually for between 2 and 7 years, using questionnaires, structured observations and interviews. Data were analysed using multilevel modelling (MLM).ResultsPredictors of good Active Support were adaptive behaviour, practice leadership, Active Support training, and time since its implementation. Heterogeneity, having more than six people in a service and larger organizations were associated with lower quality of Active Support.ConclusionsIn order to ensure that Active Support is consistently implemented, and thus, quality of life outcomes improved, organizations need to pay attention to both service design and support for staff through training and practice leadership.

BackgroundQuality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities has been found to primarily depend on whether staff are providing facilitative and enabling support that helps to compensate for severity of disability. Managers have a key role in facilitating staff to provide such support.MethodQualitative interviews were conducted with 35 managers of supported accommodation services to explore service aims and the nature of, and challenges in providing, skilled support. Key themes were identified using a Thematic Networks Analysis.ResultsService aims were rarely formalised, were related to the individuals supported and not to the organisation. Managers found it difficult to define skilled support, other than by reference to individuals. Practice leadership roles were challenged as a result of austerity measures.ConclusionsFront‐line managers need more information and training in skilled support, with stronger leadership from senior management to provide the motivation and resources needed.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report the key findings from a study of adult protection referrals collected by two English local authorities during 1998‐2005.Design/methodology/approachReferrals were analysed for patterns relating to risk with client level data supplemented by information from the local authority databases and from the Care Quality Commission. The analysis also examined associations between adult protection processes and outcomes and looked at how adult protection monitoring data could be improved to better inform safeguarding management and practice at local and national level.FindingsSexual abuse was most frequently reported for people with intellectual disabilities, who were also at higher risk of abuse when living out of area. Older people were most at risk of financial abuse in community settings and of neglect in residential care.Originality/valueThe study identifies patterns of risk in the abuse of older people and those with intellectual disabilities and informs preventive interventions. It also indicates priorities for improving the quality and comparability of adult protection monitoring data.

• Summary: This article examines the processes and outcomes of adult protection referrals in two local authorities in England using adult protection monitoring data collected between 1998 and 2005, identifying learning for the use and development of adult protection monitoring. • Findings: Associations were found between aspects of process and outcome in adult protection case management; police and regulatory agency involvement increased over time, over four-fifths of referrals resulted in investigations which were associated with higher levels of inter-agency involvement, abuse was confirmed for over two-fifths of referrals, there was significant territorial variation across a range of process and outcome measures and specialist adult protection coordinators were associated with higher levels of monitoring and post-abuse work. The study concluded that more work is needed to improve and standardize adult protection monitoring data if it is to more effectively inform case management and inter-authority comparisons. • Applications: The evidence from the study suggests that adult protection monitoring data can be used to help review and organize adult protection work at agency, team and case levels and is consequently of potential value to team managers, social workers and specialist co-ordinators working in adult protection.

Background  There has been increasing recognition of the importance and extent of abuse of vulnerable adults, including people with intellectual disabilities, leading to the development of monitoring systems. This paper reports findings from one of the largest databases in the UK collected between 1998 and 2005.Method  Analysis of the 1926 referrals relating to people with intellectual disabilities included description of the nature of abuse and the responses to the referrals, comparisons to those relating to other client groups and comparisons between those placed locally and those placed out‐of‐area.Results  About one‐third of all adult protection referrals related to people with intellectual disability, remaining consistent over time. However, the number of referrals increased significantly. The majority of people lived in residential care or supported living and this was reflected in the nature of the referrals – people were more likely to have been abused in the care home and by staff or service users than those without an intellectual disability. The most common type of abuse was physical abuse. Sexual abuse was more prevalent in the intellectual disability sample than in other client groups. People with intellectual disability were more likely to have experienced follow‐up action, usually through more monitoring. There was a different pattern of abuse seen in those placed out‐of‐area.Conclusions  The overall pattern of abuse is similar to that reported in earlier studies. There is some indication that residential situation and in particular being placed in a residential placement out‐of‐area, may be an important factor in predicting adult protection referrals.

• Summary: This study focused on the incidence of adult protection referrals, the people involved as victims, perpetrators and referrers and the type of abuse in two local authorities in the south-east of England. • Findings: The number of referrals increased over time; those for older people stabilized but those for younger adults were still rising. There was a clear association between location or setting, perpetrator and type of abuse. A referral about someone living in a care home was more likely to identify abuse by multiple staff and institutional abuse or neglect, especially if the individual was an older person with mental health problems. People with learning disabilities were more likely to experience sexual abuse, mainly from other service users or members of their family. Those living in a private home with others, primarily relatives, tended to be at risk of financial, physical or psychological abuse. Older people living alone were particularly vulnerable to financial abuse by family members or, less frequently, home care workers. • Applications : This study suggests that well-developed adult protection procedures identify many more cases than previously estimated. Further research is needed to explain the low level of referrals from mental health services and variation between territories.