Data · dataset · 2026
Professional perceptions of the social work role with adult vulnerable witnesses in Northern Ireland
Listed in ZivaHub and Deakin Research Online and DMU Figshare — shown once because both records carry DOI 10.17034/32640066.v1
Adult safeguarding involves both preventative and protective measures provided by various professionals to support individuals at risk of harm, some of whom may also be victims of crime.
Description
This study explores the perceptions of social workers and police officers in Northern Ireland regarding the role of social work in supporting Adult Vulnerable Witnesses (AVWs) within the framework of a joint investigation protocol between police and social work services. <br><br>Utilizing a cross-sectional, exploratory qualitative design, the study draws on three focus groups and 19 individual interviews to assess professional experiences.
The research is informed by a scoping review of existing literature, identifying key themes in adult safeguarding such as legal powers, outcome measures, and learning from serious case reviews. Thematic analysis of the data, guided by the theoretical frameworks of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model, models of vulnerability, and the concept of epistemic injustice, revealed several complexities within the adult safeguarding landscape.
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Notably, inconsistencies in referral processes, often driven by individual practice experience and training, result in a "referral lottery" for AVWs. The study also identifies the limited number of AVWs whose cases proceed to criminal court, highlighting gaps in the current system.<br><br>Both social workers and police officers expressed a strong desire to revise the Adult Joint Protocol, advocating for clearer inclusion and exclusion criteria, improved communication between agencies, and the development of outcome measures that reflect service user needs.
The findings emphasize the necessity of a more consistent, user-focused approach to adult safeguarding, particularly in joint investigations involving AVWs.<br>
Links
Where it is published
- DOI doi.org/10.17034/32640066.v1 ↗
DOI / persistent id · from zivahub uct ac za
Catalogue records · 1
- OAI-PMH record api.figshare.com/v2/oai?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=oai_dc&identifier=oai%3Af… ↗
metadata API · from zivahub uct ac za
Topics
Provenance · 3 source records, 13 field assertions
| Source | Key | Last seen | Raw |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZivaHub | oai:figshare.com:article/32640066 | 6 d ago | JSON v1 |
| Deakin Research Online | oai:figshare.com:article/32640066 | 6 d ago | JSON v1 |
| DMU Figshare | oai:figshare.com:article/32640066 | 6 d ago | JSON v1 |
| Field | Assertion | Extractor | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| concepts[field].anzsrc:group:4409 | mapping · figshare dmu ac uk | vocabulary-mapper@1.0.0 | keywords['social work'] |
| concepts[field].anzsrc:group:4409 | mapping · zivahub uct ac za | vocabulary-mapper@1.0.0 | keywords['social work'] |
| concepts[field].anzsrc:group:4409 | mapping · dro deakin edu au | vocabulary-mapper@1.0.0 | keywords['social work'] |
| concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmental | mapping · figshare dmu ac uk | connector:figshare_dmu_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmental | mapping · dro deakin edu au | connector:dro_deakin_edu_au@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmental | mapping · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:social-science | mapping · figshare dmu ac uk | connector:figshare_dmu_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:social-science | mapping · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:social-science | mapping · dro deakin edu au | connector:dro_deakin_edu_au@1.0.0 | |
| description | source · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | /metadata/dc/description |
| license_text | source · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | |
| publication_date | source · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | |
| title | source · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | /metadata/dc/title |