Call for Applications: Co-editor and Associate Editors

The Journal of Adult Protection is seeking expressions of interest and applications for the positions of Co-Editor and Associate Editors.

About the Journal

The Journal of Adult Protection uniquely bridges the gap between research and practice. It is the only journal to address emerging perspectives and developments in safeguarding, adult protection, mental capacity and related areas across all adult service user groups.

More about the journal’s aims and scope is available here: The Journal of Adult Protection

About the new roles

The current Editor-in-Chief, Bridget Penhale, Emeritus Professor at University of East Anglia, is stepping down from her role at the end of 2025 and will be replaced by Dr Ian Cummins, currently one of the journal’s Associate Editors. The aim of these new appointments is to build a wider editorial team to support Ian and the Journal going forwards.

As JAP enters a new chapter, Emerald Publishers would also like to take this opportunity to publicly extend our thanks to Bridget Penhale for her outstanding service as Editor-in-Chief, and previously as Co-Editor with Dr Margaret Flynn, and the dedication, vision and tireless commitment that she has demonstrated to the Journal and associated safeguarding community.

Responsibilities

Co-editor:

A journal Co-Editor will take joint responsibility for the following:

Take a lead on the journal’s overall strategy and development
Commissioning content and special issues for the journal to support unsolicited submissions to ensure that the journal has an adequate content pipeline to meet its annual article publishing target
Managing manuscript peer review and decisions of submissions through an online submission system within a reasonable timeframe
Overseeing submissions managed by Associate Editors, and taking final decisions on these
Working closely with the publishers on the editorial and production aspects of the Journal, and matters of journal development.
Upholding high standards of research integrity and inclusivity.
Promoting the journal to their networks and at events attended.

Associate editors:

The Associate Editors will assume the following responsibilities:

Helping to commission content in their designated topic area (encouraging the submission of articles and special issues)
Managing manuscript peer review for a small number of submissions through an online submission system within a reasonable timeframe
Making recommendations on manuscripts to the Editor, ensuring the quality of accepted papers
Promoting the journal at conferences and through web channels
Making suggestions on themed special issues of the journal on relevant topics
Contributing in any other ways to the journal’s further development

Qualifications

The ideal candidates for both roles will be expected to satisfy the following criteria:

Hold a PhD degree or professional qualification in an appropriate discipline
Have prior experience as a peer reviewer an/or member of an Editorial Board of a journal. For the Co-Editor role, previous Editor experience is desired.
Have published in journals
Be able to provide impartial judgement on other researchers’ work
Be fluent in English with good writing ability
Be willing to manage content via ScholarOne, the journal’s online peer-review and management system (training and support will be given).

Benefits

The roles include a small honorarium.

Additional benefits of the roles include:

Full training and support in the ScholarOne submission and peer review system.
Complimentary access to the journal
Your name listed on the journal website
Early access to new research, helping you keep abreast of developments in the field
The opportunity to network with colleagues and peers (editors or board members) and to lead and influence the journal's future development.

Terms of Service

Successful candidates would be appointed for an initial 2-year-term, starting in 2026.

Applications

Interested candidates are invited to send an emailed letter of up to 1,000 words summarising their qualifications and interests relative to the criteria stated above, together with an up-to-date CV, to the journal’s Commissioning Editor, Jo Sharrocks ([email protected]) by 10 January 2026.