 About us
The
Kent and Medway Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Committee meets
three monthly. Statutory, private and voluntary sectors agencies
and services from Kent and Medway working with vulnerable adults
are represented on the committee. Service user representatives are
part of the committee.
The other groups who meet have formal or informal opportunities
to refer issues to the committee.
Individuals who are concerned about the about the abuse of a
particular vulnerable adult may phone social services and request
an adult protection consultation. This will assist the caller to
decide if their concerns appear to constitute abuse. They can then
decide if a formal referral is appropriate.
Adult protection concerns of a more general nature may be
referred in writing directly to the chair of the adult protection
committee or to Kent's adult protection policy manager based at
Brenchley House, Maidstone.
If you have concerns about abuse in a service regulated by the
Commission for Social Care Inspection you may also contact the
Commission.
If you believe that the abuse may also be a crime and
that a vulnerable adult is at immediate risk of significant harm
you should contact the police by dialing 999.
Role of the groups that relate to the adult protection
committee
All groups have formal or informal routes to report to the
multi-agency committee.
- Policy Protocols & Guidance Review sub-group:Makes and
recommends changes to the agreed documents. This will now meet 6
monthly.
-
Serious
Case Review sub group:Carries out a review of cases that meet
the SCR criteria and makes a report of it's conclusions and
recommendations.
-
Training sub group:Engages all stakeholders in planning &
developing training programmes to meet identified needs for all
staff, managers, service users and carers.
- The Kent and Medway Agency Operational Sub Group:Considers the
practical aspects of the co-ordination of adult protection case
work.
- East and West Kent NHS Trust's AP Committees: Ensures that
their services comply with the multi-agency adult protection policy
and protocols.
- Service User, Carer and Practitioner Fora:Engages stakeholders
to assist in the understanding of adult protection issues including
local policy and protocols, legislation and guidance and best
practice.
-
AP Lead Police and Social Services Agency meeting:Focuses on
the interface of adult protection and crime, aims to ensure best
practice.
Adult Protection Process In Kent and Medway
- Concern that a vulnerable adult has been abused is reported to
SSD
- SSD co-ordinate the response by:
- Carrying out initial evaluation by contacting other
agencies/services
- Deciding if emergency action is needed?
- Planning investigation/assessment in partnership with other
agencies
- Lead for investigation may be with Police, SSD, Health or
CSCI
- Investigation/assessment completed.
- Is case conference needed? If not feedback to appropriate
people and referrer.
- Case Conference receives feedback from the investigation
/assessment decides if abuse took place. Sets up post abuse care
plan for victim(s) and any vulnerable perpetrator(s) and action
plan for service provision. Monitoring and reviewagreed by members
of the meeting.
Current Challenges in Multi-Agency Adult Protection Work
Working together when we have the same aims but different
cultures and different language. Building trust and understanding.
Working with and for vulnerable victims of abuse, their carers and
advocates.
Our Aim
Making Reality of Joint Working by:
- Understanding each others agenda, trusting each other and
believing that together we can make a difference.
Recent Legislation
You can read more about the legal issues relating to Adult
Protection under Guidance, section 2 of the
Multi-Agency Adult Protection Policy, Protocols and Guidance for
Kent and Medway.
- Fraud Act 2006
Came into force on 15th January 2007. It repeals all of
the deception offences in the Theft Acts of 1968 & 1978 and
provides a statutory definition of the single criminal offence of
fraud. Section 4 of the Act is most significant for vulnerable
adults as it provides an offence of Fraud by abuse of
position.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
Assumption of
Capacity. New offence ofill-treatment or neglect of a person who
lacks capacity. Enactment is not expected before 2007.
- Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act
2004
New offence of causing or allowing the death of
a child or vulnerable adult through abuse/neglect.
- Sexual Offences Act 2003
Came into force
on 1st May 2005. The Act contains a range of new offences and
provides harsher sentences for sexual offences against children and
vulnerable adults. It also provides new measure to strengthen and
monitor offenders. |