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ITEM EX5

EXECUTIVE – 6 FEBRUARY 2002

ADULT PROTECTION PROCEDURES

Report by the Director of Social Services

1. This report summarises the main features of the Department of Health’s ‘No Secrets’: Guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse. It also describes Oxfordshire’s proposed new codes of practice and a new framework for action to undertake this work.

Background

2. The identification and prevention of abuse where it is occurring can be seen as a key benchmark of quality services. The range of the situations involved mean that many different policies and interventions could contribute to this objective. Once a person reaches the age of 18 under U.K. law that person is legally an adult regardless of any disability or impairment they may experience. The legal framework for protecting vulnerable adults is fragmented and provides fewer opportunities for intervention than in the area of Child Protection. Unlike the field of child protection there exists no explicit legislation investing either the duty or authority on any individual agency to carry out investigation, and/or action to protect vulnerable adults. Instead the responsibility lies within a range of related legislation such as the Human Rights Act 1998, the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 and the Health Act 1999.
3. An interim monitoring system has been established in Oxfordshire recording details of allegations/concerns relating to the abuse of vulnerable adults made known to the current project worker. A total of 46 cases were brought to our attention during the 6 month period May 2001 and November 2001. The majority of these cases relate to people with a physical or learning disability reflecting the previous role of the project worker in Disabilities Division. However, an increasing number of referrals and requests for advice and support have related to older people.
4. Oxfordshire has previously had a very positive joint working protocol published in February 1998 – the Oxfordshire Inter Agency Guidelines and Procedures for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults. This document is a joint Oxfordshire Health Authority, Oxfordshire County Council and Thames Valley Police document.

No Secrets

5. The Department of Health published ‘No Secrets: Guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse’ in March 2000.
6. The report required of local authority social services departments to take on a co-ordinating role in the development of local multi-agency policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable adults from abuse by October 2001. The guidance, issued under Section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, also required the establishment of an inter-agency framework.
7. A multi-agency steering group was set up led by Social Services to review the existing document against the No Secrets guidance, its usage and workers awareness of the document, and to develop a new code of practice.
8. In comparison to No Secrets much of the existing multi-agency guidelines was found to be very relevant although it needed to be updated and needed to include a multi-agency policy and framework. There was good awareness of the existing guidelines within social services although staff requested more guidance on investigation. Conversely there was limited awareness of the guidelines within health organisations and also within the Police (outside of the Family Protection Unit), with most of these staff saying they felt this issue was solely a Social Services responsibility.

Codes of Practice

9. The steering group has proposed an Oxfordshire wide multi-agency codes of practice for the protection of all vulnerable adults from abuse, exploitation and mistreatment. This will include:

• The Oxfordshire Multi-Agency Policy

• Guidance for all Staff

• Practice Guidance for managers and professionals

• A Framework For Action – Practice and the Law

• General Guidance for Investigation and Practice.

10. The document sets out how all individuals and agencies with the responsibility for the wellbeing and protection of vulnerable adults should work together to protect vulnerable adults from abuse. It is addressed to those who work in health and social care services, the police, voluntary and independent sector agencies, and others whose work brings them into contact with vulnerable adults. A copy of the draft codes is in the Members’ Resource Centre.

Framework for Action

11. In accordance with No Secrets all local authorities are required to co-ordinate the establishment of a framework of interagency arrangements that will facilitate and promote effective arrangements in their area. It is the intention of the organisations that will be signed up to this document to promote the development of awareness and good practice amongst all staff. In order to do this it is recommended that an Adult Protection Committee and the post of Adult Protection Multi-Agency Support Worker be established.
12. The Oxfordshire Adult Protection Committee will be a standing committee of lead officers from the main statutory and voluntary agencies led by the local authority and co-ordinate activity between agencies, facilitate joint training and monitor and review progress.
13. It is proposed that the Adult Protection Multi-Agency Support Worker will support the operation of the Committee, collect and analyse information, audit and evaluate how well services are working together, contribute to interagency training and development and provide advice and support to staff across all agencies.
14. It is proposed to launch and start using the new Codes of Practice on 1 May 2002. This will give time for multi-agency briefings to be undertaken and for all agencies to sign up to using the document. Ongoing training and briefings will be a key part to ensuring that staff are aware of and working to the Codes of Practice.

Financial Implications

15. For the past 3 years Prevention Grant funding of £75,000 has supported the work being undertaken in this area in Oxfordshire. It is the intention of the current steering group and the future Adult Protection Committee that funding for the future costs associated with this work – including the operation of the Committee, training and development and the Support Worker - will be funded by financial contributions from each of the parties who are signed up to the Codes of Practice. Total cost will be approximately £50,000. The final detail of this has still to be confirmed. If this funding is not achieved then a much reduced service – including reduced support levels to staff and less training and awareness raising - will be provided consisting of the workers time from each agency and the 0.5 FTE post committed to this area of work within Disabilities Division.

RECOMMENDATIONS

16. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

MARY ROBERSTON
Director of Social Services

January 2002