Safeguarding people with learning difficulties from forced marriage: the role of safeguarding adult boards

Purpose The issue of forced marriage is typically located within debates on violence against women, immigration control and cultural difference and is rarely considered in relation to adults with learning disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to argue that this is an issue which needs to be ad...

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Main Author: Clawson, Rachael
Format: Article
Published: Emerald 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35866/
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author Clawson, Rachael
author_facet Clawson, Rachael
author_sort Clawson, Rachael
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Purpose The issue of forced marriage is typically located within debates on violence against women, immigration control and cultural difference and is rarely considered in relation to adults with learning disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to argue that this is an issue which needs to be addressed by Safeguarding Adult Boards. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws upon original research undertaken by the author in conjunction with the Ann Craft Trust, a voluntary sector organisation which supports statutory, independent and voluntary sector organisations across the UK to protect adults at risk. The project sought to establish the extent to which the issue of forced marriage of people with learning disabilities is recognised, understood and acted upon by Boards. Findings Although many Boards are aware of national policy guidelines, very few had incorporated these guidelines into their local practice. There were two key consequences of this. First, Boards were failing to monitor cases of forced marriage and were unable to plan preventative services. Second, frontline workers were not given necessary training and so were unable to develop effective skills of knowledge. The need for both better recognition of and improved responses to the problem of forced marriage of people with learning disabilities is highlighted, as is the need for the safeguarding workforce to be supported by more effective strategic planning and better training. Originality/value This paper draws upon original research which examined how Safeguarding Adult Boards are responding to the issue of forced marriage of people with learning disabilities – a problem currently very much under-represented in existing research and practice literature.
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spelling nottingham-358662020-05-04T18:04:07Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35866/ Safeguarding people with learning difficulties from forced marriage: the role of safeguarding adult boards Clawson, Rachael Purpose The issue of forced marriage is typically located within debates on violence against women, immigration control and cultural difference and is rarely considered in relation to adults with learning disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to argue that this is an issue which needs to be addressed by Safeguarding Adult Boards. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws upon original research undertaken by the author in conjunction with the Ann Craft Trust, a voluntary sector organisation which supports statutory, independent and voluntary sector organisations across the UK to protect adults at risk. The project sought to establish the extent to which the issue of forced marriage of people with learning disabilities is recognised, understood and acted upon by Boards. Findings Although many Boards are aware of national policy guidelines, very few had incorporated these guidelines into their local practice. There were two key consequences of this. First, Boards were failing to monitor cases of forced marriage and were unable to plan preventative services. Second, frontline workers were not given necessary training and so were unable to develop effective skills of knowledge. The need for both better recognition of and improved responses to the problem of forced marriage of people with learning disabilities is highlighted, as is the need for the safeguarding workforce to be supported by more effective strategic planning and better training. Originality/value This paper draws upon original research which examined how Safeguarding Adult Boards are responding to the issue of forced marriage of people with learning disabilities – a problem currently very much under-represented in existing research and practice literature. Emerald 2016-09-01 Article PeerReviewed Clawson, Rachael (2016) Safeguarding people with learning difficulties from forced marriage: the role of safeguarding adult boards. Journal of Adult Protection, 18 (5). pp. 277-287. ISSN 2042-8669 safeguarding; forced marriage; vulnerable adult; frontline practice; learning disabilities; intellectual disabilities http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/JAP-03-2016-0004 doi:10.1108/JAP-03-2016-0004 doi:10.1108/JAP-03-2016-0004
spellingShingle safeguarding; forced marriage; vulnerable adult; frontline practice; learning disabilities; intellectual disabilities
Clawson, Rachael
Safeguarding people with learning difficulties from forced marriage: the role of safeguarding adult boards
title Safeguarding people with learning difficulties from forced marriage: the role of safeguarding adult boards
title_full Safeguarding people with learning difficulties from forced marriage: the role of safeguarding adult boards
title_fullStr Safeguarding people with learning difficulties from forced marriage: the role of safeguarding adult boards
title_full_unstemmed Safeguarding people with learning difficulties from forced marriage: the role of safeguarding adult boards
title_short Safeguarding people with learning difficulties from forced marriage: the role of safeguarding adult boards
title_sort safeguarding people with learning difficulties from forced marriage: the role of safeguarding adult boards
topic safeguarding; forced marriage; vulnerable adult; frontline practice; learning disabilities; intellectual disabilities
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35866/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35866/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35866/