Professional Curiosity in Safeguarding Adults

This is an essential text for students at all levels studying social work, nursing and allied health and social care, focusing on the need for professional curiosity and partnership work in safeguarding adults. Professional curiosity is a vital element of professional health and social care practice, yet information and guidance are scarce. Considering the post-pandemic landscape and the legal policy context of partnership work, this text provides a detailed examination around definitions of professional curiosity and what those mean in practice in relation to vulnerable adults. Real life examples are woven throughout based on serious case reviews, safeguarding adults’ reviews, domestic homicide reviews and extensive research, and there are numerous opportunities for readers to test their knowledge and skills.

Ann Anka works as an associate professor in social work at the University of East Anglia (UEA). Her specialist area of practice is social work with adults.

Helen Thacker currently works as Head of Service for Safeguarding Adults at Norfolk County Council and is a registered social worker. She is a member of the county’s Safeguarding Adults Board and has published about safeguarding and professional curiosity in several peer reviewed journals.

Bridget Penhale is Emeritus Professor in health sciences at UEA. She has extensive research and practice knowledge in safeguarding adults.

Walter Lloyd Smith has been amanager and business lead forNorfolk Safeguarding Adults Board since 2015. Before this he worked as the Safeguarding Adults Lead for a community health provider.

Becky Booth is a deputy manager at Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board. She has worked in adult social care since 1994 in positions including safeguarding adult practice consultant. She is a registered social worker.