Adult Protection in Shropshire

Sarah BlandAdult Protection Manager

Shropshire County Council

Adult Protection in Shropshire

• Structure of the Multi-Agency Adult Protection Policy

• Aim of the Multi-Agency Adult Protection Policy

– to make clear staff roles and responsibilities

– to establish what has happened i.e. prove or disprove

– put together a protection plan

History• March 2000 No Secrets• April 2001 Vulnerable Adult Protection

Committee established• July 2001 Appointment of Adult

Protection Manager• October 2001 Launch of Policy• April 2002 Allocation of training budget• November 2002 Launch of Policy review• January 2003 Appointment of part time

administrator• January 2004 Launch of revised Policy

History (cont.)• March 2004 Audit process begins• September 2005 Funding confirmed for Adult

Protection Chairperson and Minute Taker

• December 2005 Appointment of joint post with Shropshire Partners in Care

• March 2005 Appointment of Chairperson• April 2006 Launch of revised Policy

review• May 2006 Move to two offices for Adult

Protection Team

Investigation Process

• Team receives Referral Form• Information discussed with team

manager/senior worker• Strategy discussion with the Police• Level I Interview • Level II Planning meeting• Level III Review meeting

Investigation process (cont.)

• The role of the team manager/senior worker• The role of the investigating worker• The rights of the alleged abuser• What if the alleged abuser is a member of the

family• What if the alleged abuser is another vulnerable

adult• Dealing with allegations of abuse against paid

staff• Dealing with alleged institutional abuse• Management reviews

Interesting Fact No.1

• On the 14th June I will be 40 years young……..

Audit

• Yearly audit• Random sample selected • Quantitative information gathered• Qualitative information gathered• Approximately 25 cases per year audited• Feedback to team managers and senior workers

Disadvantages

• Getting information from teams

– figures out of date– forms not complete or missing

• Lack of consistency in implementation

– number of investigation teams• Seen as time consuming by investigation teams• Large document

Advantages

• Comprehensive step-by-step guide

– referring– investigating– standard letters– set agendas

• Multi-Agency decision making• Clarifies the roles and responsibilities of agencies• Increases “transparency” • Protects staff as well as service users

Data Collection

Interesting Fact No.2

• On 16th June I may not be alive……

Reviewing the Policy

• April 2006 – March 2007• Re-launch Policy April 2007• Sub-groups• Consultation with teams and partners

Training

• Module 1 - Awareness• Module 2 - Managing the Referral Process• Module 3 - Interviewing and investigating• Module 4 - Adult Protection and the Law• Module 5 - Achieving Best Evidence• Module 6 - Chairing Training• Module 7 - Minute Taking• Module 8 - Understanding the links between

MAPPA and Adult Protection• Module 9 - Interviewing Alleged Abusers

Related Issues

• Quarterly meetings with Achieving Best Evidence trained staff

• Quarterly meetings to discuss adult protection case studies

• Development of standardised Disciplinary Policy for the independent sector

• Local list of abusers to go on CareFirst

Interesting Fact No.3

• If I don’t make it past the 16th June, not to worry…..