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Pointers for Practice: Managing family disagreements

Perceptions of what constitutes abuse and/or neglect to an adult at risk varies. On occasion the family will hold different views to practitioners and consequently may be over protective of the adult, insisting ‘something is done’. Alternatively, family members may not recognise the abuse and/or neglect and insist that practitioners are ‘making a fuss about nothing’. Family members may also disagree amongst themselves as to whether their relative is an adult at risk. In these situations, practitioners must ensure that any actions are in the best interests of the adult at risk. This means trying to understand different perspectives and working with them to resolve differences to protect the adult at risk. When an adult at risk is experiencing abuse and/or neglect there are two key factors that influence perceptions:

  • Perceptions of the individual’s competence to make specific decisions
  • Perceptions of the autonomy the individual should have to make decisions.

It is important for practitioners to gain an understanding of family members’ perceptions of the above so that the practitioner can begin to appreciate the family’s fears and concerns.

  • The following questions are designed to initiate such conversations:
  • What are your worries about this particular situation and the adult at risk’s ability to make a decision in this context?
  • Have you experienced similar situations in the past with the adult at risk and what has been the outcome?
  • Based on your knowledge of the adult at risk, how much independence do you think they should have to make decisions about this situation?
  • Can you give recent examples of situations when they have made what you consider are positive/or poor decisions?

(Adapted from Deci, E. and Ryan, R. 2017)

For further information see

Deci, E. and Ryan, R. (2017) Self-Determination Theory: An Approach to Human Motivation and Personality (Accessed 17/7/2019)

SCIE (2018) Gaining access to an adult suspected to be at risk of neglect or abuse (Accessed 3/8/2019)