Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007: guidance for General Practice

Large scale investigations

The Act makes no reference to large scale investigations (LSIs), but these have become increasingly prevalent across Scotland since the implementation of the Act. Many partnerships have their own procedures, sometimes across a number of partnerships (e.g. within one Health Board area). LSIs frequently involve other agencies including the Care Inspectorate, the NHS and the police, but there are no nationally agreed definitions of what warrants an LSI, or guidance for conducting LSIs or for governance arrangements locally.

An LSI may be required where there is reason to believe that adults who are residents of a care home, supported accommodation, an NHS hospital or other facility, or who receive services in their own home may be at risk of harm due to another resident, a member of staff, some failing or deficit in the management regime, or in the environment of the establishment or service. In such circumstances this means that there is a belief that a particular service or alleged harmer may be placing more than one of its residents or service users at risk of harm.

It would, therefore, be prudent for GPs to be aware of their local partnership's LSI procedures, as they may be asked to contribute to an LSI by way of a report, information sharing, attendance at meetings, or other contribution to investigation and/or protection activity. etc. The local APC could advise on this.