Safeguarding Adults Online: Perspectives on Rights to Participation

This book addresses the gap in adult safeguarding by providing a comprehensive overview of policy and practice in supporting vulnerable adults online, advocating for effective support without compromising privacy and participation rights, and balancing theoretical exploration with practical and realistic understanding for policy makers, professionals, and students in social work, law, and adult social care.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2022
Publisher: Bristol University Press

Adult safeguarding in the digital arena is a critical issue that has received insufficient attention. This much-needed volume fills this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of policy and practice in supporting vulnerable adults online. The authors advocate for the effective support of adults with learning disabilities and/or mental capacity issues in their digital lives without compromising their privacy and participation rights. The text balances a theoretical exploration of the tensions between participation and protection, legislation, human rights, professional biases, and social wrongs. It encourages a critical approach in adopting both a practical and realistic understanding for policy makers, professionals, and students in social work, law, and adult social care.

The digital arena presents unique challenges for vulnerable adults, including the risk of online abuse, exploitation, and cybercrime. However, it also offers opportunities for social connection, education, and empowerment. To address these challenges, policy and practice must be developed to support vulnerable adults in their digital lives.

One of the key challenges facing policy and practice in supporting vulnerable adults online is the tension between participation and protection. On the one hand, vulnerable adults should be encouraged to participate in the digital world and access the benefits it offers. On the other hand, they may be vulnerable to online abuse, exploitation, and cybercrime. Policy and practice must balance these competing interests to ensure that vulnerable adults are protected while also being able to participate in the digital world.

Legislation is another important aspect of policy and practice in supporting vulnerable adults online. There are a number of laws and regulations that protect vulnerable adults from online abuse, exploitation, and cybercrime. However, these laws and regulations may not be fully implemented or enforced. Policy and practice must work to ensure that these laws and regulations are effective and that vulnerable adults are aware of their rights and responsibilities.

Human rights are also important in policy and practice in supporting vulnerable adults online. Vulnerable adults have the right to privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information. Policy and practice must work to ensure that these rights are protected and that vulnerable adults are able to exercise them.

Professional biases are also a significant challenge in policy and practice in supporting vulnerable adults online. Professionals may have biases that can impact their ability to support vulnerable adults. Policy and practice must work to address these biases and ensure that vulnerable adults are treated fairly and respectfully.

Social wrongs are also a significant challenge in policy and practice in supporting vulnerable adults online. Social wrongs include discrimination, inequality, and poverty. Policy and practice must work to address these social wrongs and ensure that vulnerable adults are able to access the resources and support they need to thrive.

To address these challenges, policy and practice must be developed to support vulnerable adults in their digital lives. This may include providing training and support to professionals, developing policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults, and providing access to technology and the internet.

One of the key challenges facing policy and practice in supporting vulnerable adults online is the need to balance the need for privacy and participation rights. Vulnerable adults may be reluctant to share personal information online, but they may also need to access services and support online. Policy and practice must work to ensure that vulnerable adults are able to share personal information safely and securely while also being able to access the services and support they need.

Another challenge facing policy and practice in supporting vulnerable adults online is the need to address the issue of cybercrime. Cybercrime can take many forms, including phishing, malware, and hacking. Policy and practice must work to prevent cybercrime and to respond to it when it occurs.

In addition to these challenges, policy and practice must also be responsive to the changing nature of the digital arena. The digital arena is constantly evolving, and new technologies and practices are being developed. Policy and practice must be able to adapt to these changes to ensure that vulnerable adults are protected.

One of the key ways that policy and practice can be responsive to the changing nature of the digital arena is to engage with vulnerable adults and their communities. Policy and practice must work to listen to the concerns of vulnerable adults and to work with them to develop solutions to their problems.

In conclusion, adult safeguarding in the digital arena is a critical issue that has received insufficient attention. This much-needed volume fills this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of policy and practice in supporting vulnerable adults online. The authors advocate for the effective support of adults with learning disabilities and/or mental capacity issues in their digital lives without compromising their privacy and participation rights. The text balances a theoretical exploration of the tensions between participation and protection, legislation, human rights, professional biases, and social wrongs. It encourages a critical approach in adopting both a practical and realistic understanding for policy makers, professionals, and students in social work, law, and adult social care. By engaging with vulnerable adults and their communities, policy and practice can be responsive to the changing nature of the digital arena and ensure that vulnerable adults are protected.

ISBN-13: 9781447360582