This 2019 - 2022 study is co-led by Michelle Cornes of HSCWRU and Michela Tinelli, LSE. It is funded by the NIHR School for Social Care Research. Also on the team: Jess Harris, Stephen Martineau and Jill Manthorpe of HSCWRU; Bruno Ornelas (Concrete); Stan Burridge (Expert Focus), PPIE/Peer Researcher; James Fuller, PPIE/Peer Researcher.
This study explores how self-neglect is experienced by people who are homeless, and how this can be addressed through strengthening local adult safeguarding responses. Little is known about what constitutes ‘positive practice’ and the services and support that are needed to address this problem, particularly where it intersects with substance misuse and other extreme forms of deep social exclusion. Concerns have been raised by government about the adequacy of safeguarding, why there have been so few Safeguarding Adults Reviews into the deaths of people who are homeless, and whether learning from these Reviews is being implemented.
Methods
This study is employing participatory and action orientated methods to work collaboratively with Safeguarding Adults Boards across three English local authority areas to identify positive practices and areas for improvement. In 2020 we carried out a review of the research, legal and policy literature, and telephone interviews with social workers about their views and experiences of working with people who self-neglect, with a focus on whether people experiencing Multiple Exclusion Homelessness experience Adult Social Care services, including safeguarding, differently. In 2021 primary data collection in the three local authorities has included 60 online interviews with practitioners and starting the face to face interviews with people who are homeless; economic modelling using SARs is underway and we have been generating impact using Communities of Practice (CoPs) in each site. All the study findings will inform the development of national practice guidance on self-neglect and homelessness plus other outputs for specific audiences.
Related work in adult safeguarding
Martineau, S. J., Cornes, M., Manthorpe, J., Ornelas, B., & Fuller, J. (2019). Safeguarding, homelessness and rough sleeping: An analysis of Safeguarding Adults Reviews. London: NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce, The Policy Institute, King's College London.
See also the Unit's parallel project examining social care responses to self-neglect and hoarding among older people. As well as fieldwork, this study is undertaking evidence reviews in self-neglect and hoarding.
The photo below shows team member Stan Burridge at a project outreach event in London (see under Activity).