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Ambiguity and Cooperation in the Implementation of Adult Protection Policy
Author(s) -
McCreadie Claudine,
Mathew Dinah,
Filinson Rachel,
Askham Janet
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
social policy and administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1467-9515
pISSN - 0144-5596
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9515.2007.00595.x
Subject(s) - ambiguity , general partnership , agency (philosophy) , voluntary sector , public administration , government (linguistics) , public policy , policy analysis , public relations , public sector , political science , sociology , law , computer science , social science , linguistics , philosophy , programming language
Using a classification of public policy developed by Matland, we examine implementation of policy on adult protection as outlined in ‘No Secrets’, the government's guidance to local agencies. This policy appears to exemplify a ‘high‐ambiguity/low‐conflict’ model. Detailed interviews with staff charged with developing multi‐agency procedures, in local authority departments, health authorities, the police and the voluntary sector, confirmed the ambiguity of the policy and the uncertainty experienced by staff as a consequence. However, the interviews also revealed a number of areas of conflict, particularly as people gave precedence to their own professional norms and organizational priorities over partnership working.