Wales Interim Policy and Procedures for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults from Abuse

1
Wales Interim Policy and Procedures for the
Protection ofVulnerable Adults from Abuse

• An overview of the changes and expectations the
  new guidance will bring.
• POVA Co-ordinator

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The Interim Policy

• Wales Policy and Procedures for the Protection of
  Vulnerable Adults from Abuse is intended to
  guide the safeguarding work of all those
  concerned with the welfare of vulnerable adults
  employed in the statutory, third (voluntary) and
  private sectors, in health, social care, the
  police and other services
• It is not expected that all health and social
  care workers involved in the care of vulnerable
  adults will read this long document

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Safeguarding in Wales

• Adult protection work has evolved rapidly since
  the Welsh Office issued the guidance document In
  Safe Hands in 2000 and continues to do so. It
  has been written in accordance with the current
  guidance and the Welsh Assembly plans to consult
  on proposals for future adult protection
  arrangements early in 2011, following upon its
  review of In Safe Hands. Revised Assembly
  guidance is expected in 2011 and there are also
  other potential changes to the context of Adult
  Protection. .

4
Currently

• Stage 1 The Alert
• Stage 2 Written Referral (within 24hrs of the
  Alert)
• Stage 3 Strategy Discussion (within two working
  days of the alert)

• Stage 4 Strategy Meeting (within 3 days of the
  referral)
• Stage 5 Investigation
• Stage 6 Case Conference( within 15 working days
  of the referral)

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Wales Interim Policy

• Stage 1-The alert
• Stage 2 - Referral (within 24hrs)
• Stage 3- Strategy discussion (within 48hrs)
• Stage 4 - Strategy Meeting (within 7 days of the
  referral)
• Stage 5 - Investigation. (Appropriate timescales
  agreed at Strategy Meeting)

• Stage 6 Re-convened Strategy Meeting
• Stage 7 - Case Conference (Agreed date set at
  Strategy Meeting)
• Stage 8 - Implement actions (agreed timescales)
• Stage 9 - Review of an adult protection plan
  (within 6 weeks of the Case Conference)
• Stage 10 - Closure

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Changes Stages

• 10 stages
• Case Conferences and Vulnerable Adults attending
  are central to the process and necessary.
• Timescales changed to ensure they can be met.
  Type of meetings changed.
• Review meetings not necessarily needed. Current
  guidance highlights the need for a formal POVA
  review. This is not necessarily needed.
• POVA process to remain open until evidence
  suggests the actions have been complete.

• 6 stages
• Often cases close without a Case Conference thus
  the Vulnerable Adult is not central to the
  process.
• Stages dictated by unachievable timescales that
  cannot be met.
• The use of different meetings not clear.
• Policy suggests that actions are set at meetings
  but no guidance to say that the case should
  remain open until they are complete.

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Additions

• Mental Capacity Act
• Mental Health Act 2007.
• Advocacy
• Escalating concerns
• One set of paperwork
• APC unified
• Regional Forums unified
• All Wales Serious Case Review guidance.

• More focus on prevention
• Thresholds
• Risk Assessment, prioritisation and response.
• MAPPA
• Roles clarified
• POVA roles clarified
• Glossary of Terms
• Child Protection

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Additions

• Definitions and categories of abuse remain the
  same as In Safe Hands
• Vulnerable Adult on Vulnerable Adult abuse
  explored further
• Vulnerable Adults attending Strategy Meetings.
• ISA

• More guidance on domestic violence
• Deprivation of Liberty
• Forced Marriage
• Data collection
• Keeping families and others informed.
• Responsibilities to alleged perpetrators.

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Non-Criminal Investigations

• Best practice promotes
• Statutory Agency should lead on all
  investigations.
• Not the care manager and should not go on to be
  care manager.
• Ideally not providers
• Health and Social Services to chair/investigate
  in certain complex cases for independence.
• Managing Non-Criminal Investigation Tool

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Criminal Investigations

• Police Decision Forms
• Achieving Best Evidence.
• Promoting successful prosecutions.
• Criminal Investigations
• Intermediaries
• Strategy discussion with Public Protection Unit
  Supervisor.

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Health One system for all

• Clinical Governance versus POVA thresholds
  differed.
• Critical incident policy/ Root cause analysis
  Investigation process.
• Non-criminal investigation tool to be followed
  for POVA investigations
• Complaints / POVA screening.
• Role of Health Boards

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Key Messages
SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING DO SOMETHING
http//www.ssiacymru.org.uk/media/pdf/t/2/Wales_Ad
ult_Protection_Policy_and_ Procedure_-_FINAL_30_No
vember_2010.doc