Book Review: Good Practice in the Law and Safeguarding Adults

Good Practice in the Law and Safeguarding Adults, Criminal Justice and Adult Protection

★★★★★

Jacki Pritchard (ed) Jessica Kingsley Publishers ISBN 9781843109372

Do you find law boring? Do you think there are few legal remedies for safeguarding adults? If so, read this excellent book which will dispel both myths.

This is an accessible, well-written book which offers very clear information about the law supplemented by practical application.

The first chapter gives an overview of relevant legislation and warrants the price of the book alone. It covers civil and criminal law in straightforward English, and with good practice points. This is linked to categories of abuse and so will be easy to use in practice.

There are other useful chapters on Scottish law, mental capacity, and the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate service.

The chapter on information-sharing is very clear and will be helpful to practitioners struggling with this issue.

There is an excellent chapter on financial abuse which gives specific help and useful legal guidance.

The weaker area of the book is the last section of personal reflections from various practitioners – it is largely unfocused and anecdotal. There is also some repetition and inconsistency between the different contributors to the book, with a list of special measures featuring three times.

However, this book is a rich resource for practitioners, managers and trainers from any agency involved in safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Linda Naylor is an independent trainer at Training Matters

This review is published in the 2 July issue of Community Care

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