The evolution of adult safeguarding in Northern Ireland: a historical perspective from Joyce McKee

Purpose
This is an original interview, as commissioned by Dr Jeremy Dixon. The purpose of the paper is to provide insight into the development of adult safeguarding policy and practice in Northern Ireland from the early 2000s to the post-2015 policy era.

Design/methodology/approach
An interview took place between the authors of this paper to explore relevant issues in adult safeguarding in Northern Ireland and the second author’s contributions to the field.

Findings
Joyce Mckee, the former Regional Adult Safeguarding Officer for Northern Ireland, offers a critical historical overview of the development of adult safeguarding policy and practice in Northern Ireland. Joyce reflects on the transition from an ad hoc social work interest to a standardised, purpose-driven, regional framework. The role of Northern Ireland’s unique political history and integrated systems in fostering a culture of relationship-based practice and bottom-up policy development is highlighted. The conceptual move from a largely paternalistic approach to person-centred, rights-based frameworks that repositioned safeguarding as “everybody’s business” is discussed along with strategic difficulties in aligning police and health priorities.

Originality/value
The interview provides insight into the development of adult safeguarding policy and practice in Northern Ireland. It highlights conceptual shifts in adult safeguarding since 2000 and identifies the often-overlooked value of sensitive, non-prosecutorial police work in safeguarding and the enduring role of professional social work skills in advocating for adult autonomy.