Investigating discourses related to the safeguarding of adults at risk

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the language being used by leaders in a charity offering residential care to adults in relation to safeguarding and, therefore, improve leadership practice. Design/methodology/approach Action learning sets (ALSs) were used to explore the use of language and its relationship to practice. In addition, interviews were held with the presenters of each case and surveys were completed at the mid-point and end of the ALS series. The researcher used the Multiple Lens View Model (Shippen and Trussler, 2024) to encourage leaders to examine the perspectives they took when discussing safeguarding issues. Findings Language used to evaluate safeguarding incidents, particularly the terms care, capacity and consequences exposed contrary understanding and application of policy, potentially increasing risk. Research limitations/implications It is valuable for leadership teams to examine how they are operationalising the legislation, policy and procedures of their organisations using ALSs. This helped the organisation examine its practice and implement more ALSs in reviewing safeguarding issues as they emerge. Originality/value Studies have examined practice in relation to legislation; however, to the author’s knowledge, not in terms of the language used in care, capacity and consequences and how the use of ALSs can examine the operation of safeguarding adults.