Purpose This practice paper aims to examine the implications of the Supreme Court judgment in Attorney General for Northern Ireland (AGNI) (Deprivation of Liberty) [2026] UKSC 16 for adults living with acquired brain injury (ABI), using ABI as a safeguarding lens through which to consider the wider implications of the decision for social work practice. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper critically analyses the AGNI judgment alongside literature relating to ABI, impaired self-awareness (insight), suggestibility and coercive control to explore the implications of the revised deprivation of liberty framework for assessment and safeguarding practice. Findings The paper argues that increased emphasis on subjective evidence of consent presents particular challenges for adults with ABI, whose impairments may affect recognition of restrictions, appreciation of alternatives or ability to resist influence whilst appearing cognitively intact. Compliance or dissent should not be assumed to reflect autonomy without careful professional scrutiny. Research limitations/implications The paper is conceptual and does not present empirical findings. It identifies the need for future research exploring the implementation of AGNI across different populations and practice settings, particularly where hidden disabilities may influence assessment of consent and liberty. Practical implications The paper proposes practical considerations for adult safeguarding professionals undertaking assessments of capacity, liberty and best interests in the post-AGNI landscape, emphasising careful exploration of autonomy, acquiescence, coercion and influence. Social implications The paper highlights the importance of ensuring that reforms intended to strengthen autonomy do not inadvertently reduce safeguards for individuals whose impairments may make meaningful consent difficult to recognise. Originality/value This is the first paper, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to examine the implications of AGNI through the specific lens of ABI, offering an interdisciplinary social work perspective on the relationship between autonomy, safeguarding and deprivation of liberty.
Purpose Each year, millions of adults experience financial exploitation or fraud. As they are often grouped together, it remains unclear whether individuals differ in their susceptibility to financial exploitation versus fraud. The study aimed to examine factors associated with financial exploitation versus fraud by including cognitive, socio-emotional, and financial measures within a lifespan sample. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 195 adults aged 18–89 completed measures assessing cognitive functioning, socio-emotional and financial factors, physical health, and demographic characteristics. Participants also reported experiences of financial exploitation and fraud, as well as their likelihood of responding to sweepstakes scam solicitations. Findings Financial exploitation and fraud were associated with different risk factors. Lower financial well-being was associated with reporting of financial exploitation, whereas lack of retirement worries was the strongest predictor of fraud. Intentions to contact sweepstakes scam solicitations were most strongly associated with higher levels of ostracism and being male. Originality/value By distinguishing financial exploitation from fraud, this study highlights the importance of tailoring prevention and intervention efforts to the specific risk profile associated with each form of financial victimization.
Purpose This study aims to examine the 2026 Reform of Japan’s adult guardianship system and evaluate it from the perspective of self-determination and Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Design/methodology/approach This study analyzes the background to the 2026 Reform, outlines its principal features and assesses its implications through doctrinal analysis of the amended legislation, legislative materials and relevant CRPD standards. Findings The reform introduces the principle of necessity, places greater emphasis on the individual’s will and preferences and increases flexibility within the adult guardianship system. However, the continued reliance on powers of consent and rescission indicates that substitute decision-making remains a central feature of the Japanese system. Research limitations/implications As the reform has not yet entered into force, the analysis is limited to the legislative framework. Future research will be required to evaluate how the new provisions are interpreted and implemented in practice. Practical implications The reform requires family courts, assistants and other professionals to place greater emphasis on the ascertainment of the individual’s will and preferences. The practical effectiveness of the reform will depend on how these actors implement the new statutory duties in practice. Social implications The findings contribute to ongoing international debates concerning legal capacity, supported decision-making and the protection of vulnerable adults in aging societies. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study provides one of the first English-language analyses of Japan’s 2026 adult guardianship reform and contributes to comparative discussions on adult guardianship, self-determination and supported decision-making.
Purpose The dual issues of elder abuse and neglect, and interpersonal violence against older women, have not yet been eradicated from society, and this entails consequences for older people, their social relations and the community at large. In Spain, a substantial number of older adults reside at home and rely on care, which is frequently provided by public services and coordinated by social workers. This research aims to examine the perspectives of social workers and home care workers (HCWs) regarding the detection of, and intervention in, various forms of violence occurring within the homes of dependent older adults receiving domiciliary care. Adopting a qualitative approach, two focus groups were set up and six in-depth interviews were conducted, to identify both good practices, such as intervention protocols and procedures. Using the “insider perspective” of professionals in daily contact with dependent individuals represents an original contribution to this field. The findings indicate a pressing need for critical reflection, increased awareness and specialised training. Furthermore, greater resources should be provided for the care of older people, which would not only permit more, better social interventions to be carried out but also bolster the prevention of such violence. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative interpretative design using thick description to explore professional perceptions of elder abuse in domestic settings. The purposive sample (Andalusia, Spain) consisted of 20 participants: 12 HCWs and 8 social workers. Data collection (March–May 2024) combined two focus groups and six semi-structured interviews to achieve source triangulation and thematic saturation. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke) supported by NVivo. The process involved inductive coding (open, axial and selective) and rigorous researcher reflexivity to ensure methodological validity and credibility. Findings This study confirms that SAD staff effectively detect domestic abuse, particularly physical violence and neglect. Key facilitators include the intensity of abuse, user vulnerability and the HCWs’ professional experience and training. While 2022 protocols represent significant progress, structural gaps remain. Conclusions emphasise the need to formally recognise HCWs as frontline safeguarding agents and provide continuous training on complex abuses like psychological violence. Ultimately, adequate funding for home care and strengthened inter-institutional coordination between social services and healthcare are essential for a holistic, rights-based response to elder abuse. Research limitations/implications This study acknowledges limitations regarding geographic representativeness and sample size, suggesting caution in generalising the findings. Nevertheless, it stands out for its innovative nature, positioning the collaboration between HCWs and social workers as a critical factor in uncovering domestic violence and ending the isolation of older adults, all within a human rights framework. Proposed future research includes longitudinal studies to evaluate the impact of intervention protocols and intersectional analyses – incorporating ethnicity, social class and functional diversity – to identify forms of violence that often remain invisible in conventional research. Practical implications To enhance safeguarding, it is a priority to formally recognise HCWs as frontline detection agents, systematically integrating them into multi-agency protocols and strengthening coordination with social and healthcare services. Specialised training on complex abuse (psychological and neglect) and adequate funding – viewed as a structural prerequisite for safety – are essential. Furthermore, the implementation of robust protocols must incorporate a gender and intersectional perspective, while valuing the professional-affective bond as a key tool for uncovering hidden violence and ensuring holistic, rights-based interventions. Social implications This study frames elder abuse and neglect as clear human rights violations, exacerbated by ageism and social prejudices that normalise loss of autonomy. A gender perspective is emphasised, recognising that violence against older women is often a continuation of lifelong abuse within a feminised care framework. Home care services (SAD) can be a vital mechanism to break social isolation and uncover hidden domestic violence. Ultimately, the work calls for shared social responsibility in caregiving and an intersectional approach to social policies to protect the diverse realities of dependent populations. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in its focus on HCWs and social workers as key detection agents, an area often overlooked in favour of traditional user satisfaction surveys. This study innovates by demonstrating that interdisciplinary collaboration is the decisive factor in uncovering hidden domestic violence. Furthermore, it transcends clinical approaches by integrating a human rights framework and proposing that detection is not merely technical but an emotionally situated process rooted in the professional-user bond. This provides a unique and necessary perspective on safeguarding and elder care.
Purpose This study aims to use a social work lens to investigate what mental health support looks like for adults who are homeless and have co-occurring substance use and mental health needs. It compares the support needs of this group to the mental health support they are able to access, providing recommendations for improvement. Design/methodology/approach This study analyses 12 Safeguarding Adult Reviews to identify learning from practice in this area. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the material and identify themes in accessing mental health support for this group. The knowledge base for homeless adults with co-occurring needs (such as multiple exclusion) informed the analysis. Findings This research found widespread challenges and barriers for this group in receiving the mental health support they urgently required. Analysis found the following areas significant: emergency pathways to mental health care; single-service provision and services working in silos; fragmented support and engagement; and safeguarding gaps in mental capacity and self-neglect. Originality/value This is an important area of research due to the multiple unmet high support needs and poor outcomes for this group of adults. This research is unique in its social work perspective and evaluation of the issues, both for services attempting to provide support and those trying to access it. It seeks to promote the wellbeing and support of this group as a social work concern.
