Purpose - There are currently no national adult safeguarding outcome measures that focus on people who have been through an adult safeguarding investigation in England. There is need for local authorities (LAs) and their partners to be able to measure whether the services provided to adults at riks of abuse and neglect are effective. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach - This paper describe the cognitive testing phase of a study to develop and implement a standardised adult at risk outcome measure in adult safeguarding for use by LAs in England. An outcome measure (a set of seven survey questions administered in a face to face interview) was cognitively tested in three LAs with adults at risk (or their carers/advocaters)for whom an investigation of abuse had been conclude(n=40), with the aim of assessing whether it was commonly understood. A set of guindance notes was designed and LA staff (n=12) who assisted with the survey were interviewed about it usability and the feasibility of administering the survey.
Findings - the survey questions required modifications to improve their reliability,validity and comparability. LA staff also suggested improvements were needed in the guidance document and survey. LA managers, adults at risk (and their relatives/carers/advocates) were willing to be involved in the survey and it was considered feasible to proceed with piloting the measure
Originality/value - the development of this unique survey is of interest to those working in adult safeguarding, user involvement, survey management and outcome measurement in LAs.