Adult Protection Committees biennial reports 2012-14: summary report

National Projects

28. During the period 2012-2014 a number of national projects were established and Convenor's were asked to report on activity related to these projects.

Financial Harm

29. Most Biennial Reports indicated this was a current and on-going priority for Committees, it was felt that a significant percentage of referrals tended to relate to this issue. Examples of activity were:

• Awareness raising campaigns, particularly focussed on the financial harm of older people;
• Hosting financial harm multi-agency events;
• Strengthening links with Police Scotland, Trading Standards, the Office of the Public Guardian and banks/other financial institutions; and
• Visiting/contacting individuals who were identified via the National Scam Hub as potentially being victims of scams.

Adult Protection in A&E Departments

30. Examples of activity given were:

• Piloting the bespoke training package developed by the national project group, resulting in an increase in referrals from A&E settings;
• Building the bespoke training package into induction training for A&E staff;
• Delivering a series of basic awareness face to face training sessions for staff in A&E;
• Distribution of Samaritans posters and contact cards;
• Developing multi-agency links with the Scottish Ambulance Service;
• Drawing up and disseminating specific guidance to GPs; and
• Work to identify frequent attenders to A&E and people who self-harm.

Adult Protection in Care Homes

31. Most Biennial Reports indicated this was also a priority for Committees, many areas reported that a large percentage of referrals relate to individuals in registered care settings. This level of referrals is seen as positive evidence of a significant level of awareness of adult protection in such settings. Examples of activity given were:

• Undertaken a survey to consider the knowledge and confidence of staff in registered care settings on adult support and protection;
• Development of a Large Scale Investigations Protocol;
• The establishment of a committee sub-group to review processes for managing harm that occurs in a registered care setting;
• Development of guidance to support service providers in recognising and reporting adult protection/welfare concern incidents to all the appropriate agencies;
• Taking a proactive approach to ensure that all care home staff have undertaken Adult Support and Protection basic awareness training; delivering a tailored programme to Care Home Managers; and extending training on adult support and protection to private sector care homes;
• Development of a training pack for staff trainers to deliver their own training in house. The training pack is entitled "Treat Us with Respect", and comprises a Power Point DVD, group exercises, register, evaluations and an Information Booklet.
• Closer engagement with the Care Inspectorate to consider common areas of concern and their implications for referral;
• Development of a new contract management framework, contributing to the protection of adults in registered care settings through the sharing of information and establishing triggers for protection measures to occur; and
• Establishing a multiagency working group. The purpose of which involves key professionals from Social Services, Health and the Care Inspectorate to ensure quality of practice; consider early indicators of harm and improve standards of care provided to adults living in residential/nursing care homes in the area;

32. The high turnover of staff throughout the majority of the care homes was reported as an issue in a small number of reports as it created a challenge to sustain the level of input that is required to ensure the standards of care, dignity and respect are consistent and maintained.

33. Large Scale Investigations in care homes indicated issues around manual handling, management of medication, infection control, dignity and respect, poor staffing levels and high use of agency staff.

Service User and Carer Involvement

34. Most Biennial Reports indicated that work had been undertaken to enhance service user and carer involvement, such as:

• Independent advocates attending Adult Support and Protection training;
• Focus groups; and
• Lead officer involvement in a wide range of planning groups.

However, most reports also indicated that more engagement is required to increase service user and carer involvement.

Data Collection

35. Most Biennial Reports indicated that work was undertaken locally to enable information systems to be fully compliant with the national dataset.