This text brings together a number of different research studies and accounts of institutional abuse from leading academics and researchers. Public enquiries and court cases concerning institutional abuse in a range of settings have generated considerable media interest in the field of institutional abuse, and have highlighted the need for preventative strategies and appropriate responses to this form of abuse. Four areas of abuse are covered: the abuse of children; the abuse of adults with mental health problems; the abuse of adults with learning difficulties; and the abuse of older people....

The plethora of inquiry reports published in the fields of health and welfare in the 1990s covered the full range of user groups, individuals and institutions. What similarities or differences were there between these inquiries? How effective were they in bringing about change? Whose interest did they best serve? These are some of the questions The Age of the Inquiry explores in detail, bringing together distinguished contributors with personal experience of chairing or providing evidence to inquiries to consider: the participant's view of inquiries the purpose of inquiries; the impact of...