Fiona Sherwood‐johnson
Biographic Data
| ID | 4466864 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Fiona Sherwood‐johnson |
| GIVEN NAMES | Fiona |
| FAMILY NAME | Sherwood‐johnson |
| SIGNATURE | JOHNSON F S |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Stirling |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7758-2905 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 10 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 31 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 10 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Carer harm
Purpose The purpose of this study is to consider how carer harm is understood, surfaced and responded to in contemporary policy, practice and research. Design/methodology/approach This paper offers a reflective commentary on the current “state of play” relating to carer harm drawing on existing research and related literature. This study focuses on how we define carer harm and what we know about its impact; lessons from, and for, practice and ser…
Dangerous care
Purpose Most abuse affecting older adults in the UK, as across Europe, takes place within caring relationships, where one person is disabled and needs care/support. This paper critically appraises two of the key theoretical explanations. First, feminist theories of “intimate partner abuse” tell us that it is mostly men who perpetrate abuse against women. Second, “carer strain”: the stress caused by caring responsibilities, often with inadequate h…
Building knowledge for policy and practice based on service user and carer experiences
This article presents Scottish adult safeguarding as a case study to illuminate some challenges of building knowledge for policy and practice based on service user and carer voices. It draws on five of our own research projects that have evaluated implementation of Scottish adult safeguarding legislation and/or asked more exploratory questions about risk, safety and support. Findings We show how practical and ethical issues limited our more evalu…
Negotiating safety and vulnerability in everyday life
This article reports on a participative study that began to explore what safety and vulnerability mean to older people and the resources they draw on to keep themselves safe. The methodology was designed in collaboration with an independent advocacy organisation and 10 of its older members, who were also research participants. It involved focus groups and repeated visits to five participants to discuss their daily lives. The findings indicate tha…
Independent advocacy in adult support and protection work
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider independent advocates’ perspectives on their roles in Scottish adult support and protection (ASP) work, and the facilitators and barriers impacting on these roles in practice. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 managers and staff from six independent advocacy agencies operating across nine local authority areas. Findings – Participants described key ro…
Risk and Decision Making in Adult Support and Protection Practice
This paper describes a study that was undertaken against the backdrop of the introduction of the 2007 Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act. This collaborative and participatory research project used Forum Theatre as a method for gathering the views of disabled people about risk and decision making. The aim was to provide information for practitioners about the issues they should take into account when making decisions about risk. Forty-two…
The experience of being protected
Purpose The purpose of the paper is to discuss how adult support and protection (ASP) work might support or further damage an adult's strengths, skills and sense of self. There is a particular focus on adults who require some support with decision‐making. Design/methodology/approach Forum theatre and other creative techniques were used to discuss ASP with 42 people who access support. A range of advice for practitioners was generated, a portion o…
Constructions of ‘vulnerability’ in comparative perspective
This paper places Scottish adult support and protection (ASP) policy in the context of debates about the nature of ‘vulnerability’ and its usefulness as a defining concept in law and social policy. It examines the construction of ‘adults at risk’ in ASP policy, using a comparison with the construction of children in Scottish child protection policy, on the one hand, and women in Scottish domestic abuse policy, on the other, to illuminate the natu…
What is an ‘adult protection’ issue? Victims, perpetrators and the professional construction of adult protection issues
Drawing on data from a Scottish research study, this paper explores the relationship of professionals’ perceptions about specific perpetrators and victims to their constructions of ‘adult protection’ issues in practice. It finds that professionals’ perceptions of victim distress did not consistently coincide with the construction of adult protection issues, whilst the connection to any assessment of victims’ heightened vulnerability in specific c…
Abuse and Protection Issues across the Lifespan
The literature is reviewed: (a) comparing models of abuse and protection applied at each stage of the lifespan; and (b) exploring abuse and protection issues with respect to individuals over time. A paucity of comparative and lifespan work in the field of abuse and protection is reported. Within the available literature, different types of knowledge are drawn upon and contrasted definitions of ‘abuse’ and ‘protection’ employed. Accordingly, the m…
Constructions of ‘vulnerability’ in comparative perspective
This paper places Scottish adult support and protection (ASP) policy in the context of debates about the nature of ‘vulnerability’ and its usefulness as a defining concept in law and social policy. It examines the construction of ‘adults at risk’ in ASP policy, using a comparison with the construction of children in Scottish child protection policy, on the one hand, and women in Scottish domestic abuse policy, on the other, to illuminate the natu…
Abuse and Protection Issues across the Lifespan
The literature is reviewed: (a) comparing models of abuse and protection applied at each stage of the lifespan; and (b) exploring abuse and protection issues with respect to individuals over time. A paucity of comparative and lifespan work in the field of abuse and protection is reported. Within the available literature, different types of knowledge are drawn upon and contrasted definitions of ‘abuse’ and ‘protection’ employed. Accordingly, the m…
What is an ‘adult protection’ issue? Victims, perpetrators and the professional construction of adult protection issues
Drawing on data from a Scottish research study, this paper explores the relationship of professionals’ perceptions about specific perpetrators and victims to their constructions of ‘adult protection’ issues in practice. It finds that professionals’ perceptions of victim distress did not consistently coincide with the construction of adult protection issues, whilst the connection to any assessment of victims’ heightened vulnerability in specific c…
The experience of being protected
Purpose The purpose of the paper is to discuss how adult support and protection (ASP) work might support or further damage an adult's strengths, skills and sense of self. There is a particular focus on adults who require some support with decision‐making. Design/methodology/approach Forum theatre and other creative techniques were used to discuss ASP with 42 people who access support. A range of advice for practitioners was generated, a portion o…
Negotiating safety and vulnerability in everyday life
This article reports on a participative study that began to explore what safety and vulnerability mean to older people and the resources they draw on to keep themselves safe. The methodology was designed in collaboration with an independent advocacy organisation and 10 of its older members, who were also research participants. It involved focus groups and repeated visits to five participants to discuss their daily lives. The findings indicate tha…
Independent advocacy in adult support and protection work
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider independent advocates’ perspectives on their roles in Scottish adult support and protection (ASP) work, and the facilitators and barriers impacting on these roles in practice. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 managers and staff from six independent advocacy agencies operating across nine local authority areas. Findings – Participants described key ro…
Dangerous care
Purpose Most abuse affecting older adults in the UK, as across Europe, takes place within caring relationships, where one person is disabled and needs care/support. This paper critically appraises two of the key theoretical explanations. First, feminist theories of “intimate partner abuse” tell us that it is mostly men who perpetrate abuse against women. Second, “carer strain”: the stress caused by caring responsibilities, often with inadequate h…
Risk and Decision Making in Adult Support and Protection Practice
This paper describes a study that was undertaken against the backdrop of the introduction of the 2007 Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act. This collaborative and participatory research project used Forum Theatre as a method for gathering the views of disabled people about risk and decision making. The aim was to provide information for practitioners about the issues they should take into account when making decisions about risk. Forty-two…
Abuse and Protection Issues across the Lifespan
The literature is reviewed: (a) comparing models of abuse and protection applied at each stage of the lifespan; and (b) exploring abuse and protection issues with respect to individuals over time. A paucity of comparative and lifespan work in the field of abuse and protection is reported. Within the available literature, different types of knowledge are drawn upon and contrasted definitions of ‘abuse’ and ‘protection’ employed. Accordingly, the m…
Constructions of ‘vulnerability’ in comparative perspective
This paper places Scottish adult support and protection (ASP) policy in the context of debates about the nature of ‘vulnerability’ and its usefulness as a defining concept in law and social policy. It examines the construction of ‘adults at risk’ in ASP policy, using a comparison with the construction of children in Scottish child protection policy, on the one hand, and women in Scottish domestic abuse policy, on the other, to illuminate the natu…
What is an ‘adult protection’ issue? Victims, perpetrators and the professional construction of adult protection issues
Drawing on data from a Scottish research study, this paper explores the relationship of professionals’ perceptions about specific perpetrators and victims to their constructions of ‘adult protection’ issues in practice. It finds that professionals’ perceptions of victim distress did not consistently coincide with the construction of adult protection issues, whilst the connection to any assessment of victims’ heightened vulnerability in specific c…
The experience of being protected
Purpose The purpose of the paper is to discuss how adult support and protection (ASP) work might support or further damage an adult's strengths, skills and sense of self. There is a particular focus on adults who require some support with decision‐making. Design/methodology/approach Forum theatre and other creative techniques were used to discuss ASP with 42 people who access support. A range of advice for practitioners was generated, a portion o…
Risk and Decision Making in Adult Support and Protection Practice
This paper describes a study that was undertaken against the backdrop of the introduction of the 2007 Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act. This collaborative and participatory research project used Forum Theatre as a method for gathering the views of disabled people about risk and decision making. The aim was to provide information for practitioners about the issues they should take into account when making decisions about risk. Forty-two…
Independent advocacy in adult support and protection work
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider independent advocates’ perspectives on their roles in Scottish adult support and protection (ASP) work, and the facilitators and barriers impacting on these roles in practice. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 managers and staff from six independent advocacy agencies operating across nine local authority areas. Findings – Participants described key ro…
Building knowledge for policy and practice based on service user and carer experiences
This article presents Scottish adult safeguarding as a case study to illuminate some challenges of building knowledge for policy and practice based on service user and carer voices. It draws on five of our own research projects that have evaluated implementation of Scottish adult safeguarding legislation and/or asked more exploratory questions about risk, safety and support. Findings We show how practical and ethical issues limited our more evalu…
Negotiating safety and vulnerability in everyday life
This article reports on a participative study that began to explore what safety and vulnerability mean to older people and the resources they draw on to keep themselves safe. The methodology was designed in collaboration with an independent advocacy organisation and 10 of its older members, who were also research participants. It involved focus groups and repeated visits to five participants to discuss their daily lives. The findings indicate tha…
Dangerous care
Purpose Most abuse affecting older adults in the UK, as across Europe, takes place within caring relationships, where one person is disabled and needs care/support. This paper critically appraises two of the key theoretical explanations. First, feminist theories of “intimate partner abuse” tell us that it is mostly men who perpetrate abuse against women. Second, “carer strain”: the stress caused by caring responsibilities, often with inadequate h…
Carer harm
Purpose The purpose of this study is to consider how carer harm is understood, surfaced and responded to in contemporary policy, practice and research. Design/methodology/approach This paper offers a reflective commentary on the current “state of play” relating to carer harm drawing on existing research and related literature. This study focuses on how we define carer harm and what we know about its impact; lessons from, and for, practice and ser…
Psychology (9 works) · Elder Abuse and Neglect (8 works) · Healthcare innovation and challenges (7 works) · Political science (7 works) · Homelessness and Social Issues (6 works) · Public relations (6 works) · Medicine (5 works) · Social Psychology (5 works) · Social Psychology (5 works) · Nursing (4 works)