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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the current state of literature on peer parental advocacy, offering practical insights and ideas for researchers and practitioners interested in this evolving field. Design/methodology/approach: This narrative review is a comprehensive, critical and objective analysis of the current knowledge on peer parental advocacy. Findings: Parental peer advocacy (PPA) has seen growing interest, with increasing research detailing the benefits and challenges. It is now being considered within children's services across the UK, drawing upon the success of similar initiatives, especially in the USA. There is a compelling case for PPA, not least as it may contribute to resolving the longstanding challenges within children services of families having the opportunity to meaningfully participate in decision-making (Corby et al., 1996; Muench et al., 2017; Bekaert et al., 2021). Research limitations/implications: Parental advocacy (PA) continues to be an evolving area of academic research and policy development both in the United Kingdom and internationally. Emerging research suggests a compelling case for an expansion in PPA within child welfare and protection systems, specifically in case, program and policy advocacy. Practical implications: PA continues to be an evolving area of academic research and policy development both in the United Kingdom and internationally. Emerging research suggests a compelling case for an expansion in PPA within child welfare and protection systems, specifically in case, program and policy advocacy. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first UK-based narrative reviews that critically analyses the research, highlighting the limitations and strengths of adopting PPA as an approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine for differences in potentially productive fear versus all other fear scores comparing adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities versus their typically developing peers without intellectual disabilities while statistically controlling for chronological age. Design/methodology/approach: The authors examined for differences in potentially productive fear scores versus all fear scores comparing adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities versus their typically developing peers without intellectual disabilities. Findings: Results of the current study highlight the importance of examining and statistically acknowledging the form of the relationship between age and fear. As previous research has indicated the relationship of age with fear, this form of the relationship should be acknowledged in subsequent analyses. Results also present a conceptualization of fear with some fears being considered as potentially productive fears as it relates to independent living. Research limitations/implications: As previous research has indicated the relationship of age with fear, this form of the relationship should be acknowledged in subsequent analyses. Finally, results present a conceptualization of fear with some fears being considered as potentially productive fears as it relates to independent living as an outcome. Practical implications: The current study presents a conceptualization of fear with some fears being considered as potentially productive fears as it relates to independent living as an outcome. Originality/value: Results support that potentially productive fears can be considered fears that can be used to promote learning that leads to independent living outcomes such as safety and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present an examination of the development of adult safeguarding policy from the perspectives of both policymakers and those who have sought to influence policy, to empower individuals with a learning disability to have a say in how policies, that influence their life and impact their right to independence, are developed. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based on a project which was led by a UK-wide interdisciplinary and multi-agency team, which included the central involvement of peer researchers who had lived experience of learning disability. It was based on a participatory disability research design. Findings: Factors which enabled or restrained individuals with a learning disability, and their supporting organisations, from getting their voice heard in policy development, are identified. Originality/value: This paper builds on policy theory and research, making recommendations for policy makers, disabled people and their supporting organisations as to how adult safeguarding policy, could be more effectively informed and influenced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to update the core data set of self-neglect safeguarding adult reviews (SARs) and accompanying thematic analysis and explore the degree to which SARs draw upon available research and learning from other completed reviews. Design/methodology/approach: Further published reviews are added to the core data set, mainly drawn from the websites of Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs). Thematic analysis is updated using the four domains used previously. The four domains and the thematic analysis are rounded in the evidence-based model of good practice, reported in this journal previously. Multiple exclusion homelessness and alcohol misuse are prominent in this sample of reviews. Findings: Familiar findings emerge from the thematic analysis and reinforce the evidence-base of good practice with individuals who self-neglect and for policies and procedures with which to support those practitioners working with such cases. Multiple exclusion homelessness emerges as a subset within this sample, demonstrating that SABs are engaging in reviews of people who die on the streets or in temporary accommodation. Research limitations/implications: The national database of reviews commissioned by SABs remains incomplete and does not contain many of the SARs reported in this evolving data set. The Care Act 2014 does not require publication of reports but only a summary of findings and recommendations in SAB annual reports. NHS Digital annual data sets do not enable identification of reviews by types of abuse and neglect. It is possible, therefore, that this data set is also incomplete. Drawing together the findings from the reviews nonetheless builds on what is known about the components of effective practice, and effective policy and organisational arrangements for practice. Practical implications: Answering the question "why" remains a significant challenge for safeguarding adult reviews. The findings confirm the relevance of the evidence-base for effective practice but SARs are limited in their analysis of what enables and what obstructs the components of best practice. Greater explicit use of research and other published SARs might assist with answering the "why" question, drawing attention where appropriate to policies being pursued by the central government that undermine any initiative to end rough sleeping. Originality/value: This paper extends the thematic analysis of available reviews that focus on work with adults who self-neglect, further reinforcing the evidence-base for practice. The evidence-base also supports practice with individuals who experience multiple exclusion homelessness. Policymakers and practitioners have an approach to follow in this complex, challenging and demanding area of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Those in prison have expert knowledge of issues affecting their health and wellbeing. The purpose of this paper is to report on work undertaken with male prisoners. This paper presents learning and findings from the process of engaging imprisoned men as peer researchers.Design/methodology/approach: The peer researcher approach offers an emic perspective to understand the experience of being in prison. The authors established the peer research role as an educational initiative at a long-stay prison in Wales, UK to determine the feasibility of engaging imprisoned men as peer researchers. Focus groups, interviews and questionnaires were used by the peer researchers to identify the health and wellbeing concerns of men in prison.Findings: The project positively demonstrated the feasibility of engaging imprisoned men as peer researchers. Four recurring themes affecting health and wellbeing for men in a prison vulnerable persons unit were identified: communication, safety, respect and emotional needs. Themes were inextricably linked demonstrating the complex relationships between prison and health.Originality/value: This was the first prison peer-research project to take place in Wales, UK. It demonstrates the value men in prison can play in developing the evidence base around health and wellbeing in prison, contributing to changes within the prison to improve health and wellbeing for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This contribution is co-authored by three members of the Young Researchers' Advisory Panel (YRAP) at the International Centre: Researching child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking (IC) at the University of Bedfordshire, and supported by an academic researcher (Camille). The purpose of this paper is to reflect the group's discussions about the relationship between children's participation and protection, considered within the context of the group's role and work. Design/methodology/approach: A collaborative reflection piece co-produced through discussions between young research advisors and academic colleagues. Findings: This paper shows the young researchers' perspectives on the relationship between and interdependencies of child protection and child participation. Originality/value: A unique contribution capturing children and young people's perspectives on the journal's theme and other contributions to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) for human services unfold within complicated social and organizational circumstances and are influenced by the attitudes and behaviors of diverse stakeholders situated within these environments. Coaching is commonly regarded as an effective strategy to support service providers in delivering EBIs and attaining high levels of fidelity over time. The purpose of this paper is to address a lacuna in research examining the factors influencing coaching, an important EBI support component.Design/methodology/approach The authors use the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment framework to consider inner- and outer-context factors that affect coaching over time. This case study of coaching draws from a larger qualitative data set from three iterative investigations of implementation and sustainment of a home visitation program, SafeCare®. SafeCare is an EBI designed to reduce child neglect.Findings The authors elaborate on six major categories of findings derived from an iterative data coding and analysis process: perceptions of “good” and “bad” coaches by system sustainment status; coach as peer; in-house coaching capacity; intervention developer requirements vs other outer-context needs; outer-context support; and inner-context support.Practical implications Coaching is considered a key component for effective implementation of EBIs in public-sector systems, yet is under-studied. Understanding inner- and outer-context factors illuminates the ways they affect the capacity of coaches to support service delivery.Originality/value This paper demonstrates that coaching can accomplish more than provision of EBI fidelity support. Stakeholders characterized coaches as operating as boundary spanners who link inner and outer contexts to enable EBI implementation and sustainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present findings from an evaluation of a mental health resilience intervention for unemployed men aged 45-60. The focus is on examining the place of activities within a multi-dimensional men’s mental health programme, and exploring interactions between social context factors and models of change. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on before and after survey data and qualitative interviews, to report results concerning effectiveness in changing men’s perceived resilience, to consider project processes concerning activities, social support and coping strategies, and to situate these within wider environments. Findings – The programme significantly raised the perceived resilience of participants. Activities were engaging for men, while the complex intersection between activities, social networking, and coping strategies course provided opportunities for men to develop resilience in contexts resonant with their male identities. Research limitations/implications – A limitation is that the evaluation could not measure longer term impacts. Practical implications – The paper discusses emerging considerations for resilience building, focusing on gender-sensitive approaches which can engage and retain men by focusing on doing and talking, in the contexts of men’s life-course, highlighting embodied (male) identities not disembodied “mental states”, and facilitating social support. There are challenges to recruit men despite stigma, support men to speak of feelings, and facilitate progression. Social implications – Potential exists for gender-aware programmes to sustain salutogenic change, co-producing social assets of peer support, male-friendly activities, and context sensitive course provision. Originality/value – The paper adds fresh evidence of gendered intervention approaches, including effects on male resilience. Application of a context-sensitive change model leads to multi-component findings for transferring and sustaining programme gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose By adopting a “peer approach,” the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the adult support and protection process in North Ayrshire from the perspective of patients, service users and carers.Design/methodology/approach A research design was co-produced by health and social care staff and people with lived experience of ASP processes and experiences. The semi-structured interview design explored the ASP inquiry, investigation and case conference stages of the ASP process.Findings The study found some examples of good practice as well as some areas for improvement. The variability of experience, the provision of information, use of advocacy services and plans for future systematic evaluation of experiences were identified for possible improvement.Research limitations/implications The design somewhat limits generalizability; the sample size is small and although the findings and innovative approach involving those with lived experience may have wider appeal, the specific recommendations pertain to a specific local authority area in Scotland though these too may interest practitioners and researchers in other authorities.Practical implications The recommendations stand to improve services and process accessed and experienced by adults at risk of harm. Working with people with lived experience takes services closer to co-producing, designing and evaluating services and processes.Originality/value This study has high originality. Local value is high and is also likely to be valuable to those interested in adult support in protection generally and peer approaches across fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Peer support (PS) workers are being employed despite uncertain evidence for clinical and cost-effectiveness. Psychological theories have been proposed to explain the mechanisms of PS but these lack empirical validation and specificity to professional PS. The purpose of this paper is to develop a substantive interpretive grounded theory of service-users’ experience of professional PS work.Design/methodology/approach Constructivist grounded theory was used throughout. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten service-users who had engaged with a professional PS worker.Findings Three overarching themes were constructed. “The process of disclosure” describes how disclosure of mental health difficulties, experiences as a service-user and wider disclosure about life experiences, interests and values facilitate the development of a shared identity with the PS worker. “The product of disclosure” highlights the sense of being understood as a result of the disclosure and marks a deepening of the relationship. “Dual roles” describes the tenuous position of holding both a professional relationship and friendship.Research limitations/implications Future research should seek to refine the theory developed and compare the effects of therapist self-disclosure with that found within PS. There were limitations within the study, including limited diversity within the sample as well as difficulties with recruitment.Originality/value This study connects service-users’ accounts of receiving PS with existing psychological theory to move towards an understanding of the relationship between receivers and providers of professional PS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- This paper seeks to offer a commentary on Psychologically Informed Services: A Good Practice Guide, a recently published operational guidance document on developing psychologically informed environments (PIEs) in services for homeless people. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper is an invited opinion piece and comment, based on the specialist experience and viewpoint of the author as Chief Executive of Second Step, a housing association providing support to a range of vulnerable people. Findings -- The new operational guidance is welcomed. The author outlines the use of the concept of a psychologically informed environment, as developed in practice through an initial pilot service run by Second Step. This practice learning was then spread and developed more broadly through other Second Step services. Originality/value -- On the basis of their experience, the author makes observations on what was found most useful, to "inform" their service. The agency has now agreed a Psychological Therapies Strategy, which focuses on developing training for staff on interventions that can be effectively used within the staff role. Reflective practice is promoted throughout the service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This qualitative study considers the roles of service user consultants (SUCs) in six of the original 11 Department of Health (DH) Community Personality Disorder (PD) pilot services; how these roles differ from the active participation traditionally encouraged in therapeutic communities (TCs) around responsibility for self and others; how a service user (SU) becomes a SUC; what responsibilities they hold; the views of both staff members and SUCs on the role and the benefits and difficulties it creates; and how the role could be developed in a service-specific and general way. It is of particular interest to consider the amount of time for which the SUC role is seen to be beneficial, and what support a SUC would need to leave the role.Design/methodology/approach - Two qualitative interview schedules were developed to investigate issues highlighted in previous literature, one designed to be answered by staff members, another developed with a SUC from Cumbria for SUCs and administered by telephone. The research questions were designed to look at four main themes: How SUs become SUCs; SUC responsibilities within the service; views on the benefits and difficulties of the SUC role; and developing the role and moving forward. The context of each service was explored to reflect the uniqueness of each SUC role and service philosophy.Findings - The SUC role continues to develop and is seen as having value, particularly as a "bridge" between SUs and staff members, and as a transitional stage in which the work of therapy can be consolidated. Problems remain in respect to: optimal levels of disclosure between other staff members and SUCs; the level and type of support needed to carry out the work and to remain well; acceptance of the role by professionals in other teams; and the extent to which SUCs are felt able to engage, or not, in direct clinical work.Research limitations/implications - This is a qualitative study in which only just over half of the pilot services agreed to take part and in which fewer SUCs were put forward to take part as compared to other staff members. There are therefore potential problems in generalising these findings to other services which employ SUCs.Practical implications - Within personality disorder services there is a perceived optimal level of disclosure and information sharing between other staff members and SUCs, and between SUCs and SUs, but this remains undefined. SUC responsibilities do not always include direct clinical work because of concerns to maintain their well being. There is evidence from a number of services that SUCs can safely and creatively engage in direct clinical work given suitable support and supervision. Staff members from other teams without experience of employing SUCs may not always understand the SUC role, may denigrate the experience of SUCs, or feel threatened by their incursion into training and clinical work. SUCs seem enthusiastic to work in other areas within their wider service to promote understanding of mental health and personality difficulties. In-service supervision/mentoring can help to monitor and alleviate SUC distress.Originality/value - The paper extends knowledge about the SUC role, as it has developed and diversified during the development of the DH Community PD Pilot Sites. Novel semi-structured interview schedules have been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]