Multi-agency working

This is a one-page guide to the responsibilities of healthcare practitioners in Adult Support and Protection. The areas covered are background; why it matters; three-point criteria; duty to co-operate; information sharing; ASP case conferences; what to do.

This investigation concerns Ms ST who had learning disabilities, cerebral palsy and diabetes, and is registered blind. She was treated in hospital following a neck fracture. Ms ST was deemed fit for discharge, however, she remained in hospital due to prolonged disagreement between family, health professionals and the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) about discharge plans.

GPs and General Practice staff are well placed to identify adults at risk of harm. They are a vital component in the multi-agency arrangements to support and protect where necessary. This guidance is to support GPs and General Practice staff when they may have need to refer to the Act. It should be used in conjunction with the main Adult Support and Protection Code of Practice.

These are principles for information sharing regarding adults at risk of harm, in circumstances where they move from one area to another. Their aim is to ensure an adult at risk will be provided with the same level of support and protection in their new setting. The principles are can be used either with, or without, prior notice of the move. They can also be used when a person has already moved. These principles aim to support permanent changes of residence, though they may also be useful for temporary changes in residence.

This informal learning review follows a series of crisis meetings that led to the hospital admission of 'A22'. It particularly concerns a whole-family approach to Adult Support and Protection and taking a multi-agency approach in this. Issues discussed include challenges around escalation (when to escalate, to whom, and what to do when no escalation processes exist). Also covered is the challenge when supporting an adult who chooses not to engage - particularly where capacity and choice exists.

This informal learning review is based on a request made by the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC). Issues covered in this review include self-neglect, hoarding behaviour, multi-agency working, chronologies, and professional curiosity.

This informal learning review is based on findings from the 2022 Adult Support and Protection joint inspection in Perth and Kinross. Issues covered in this review include emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), self-harm, multi-agency working, recording, and trauma-informed practice.
 

This protocol was developed in Renfrewshire to augment the duty to refer and cooperate process in Adult Support and Protection. It outlines the processes when there is disagreement as to ASP issues. This includes disagreements related to concerns, thresholds, risk, action (or lack of action), or communication. MaREP aims to resolve a professional disagreement at the earliest stage, always keeping the adult at risk’s safety and welfare paramount. It includes, as an appendix, a 'Professional Concern/Outcome Resolution' template.

This multi-agency guidance for managing self-neglect, hoarding and non-engagement provides a framework to complement any single agency protocol or guidance. It includes material on defining the issue, assessment, information sharing, working together to find solutions, and addressing non-engagement with services. The guidance is accompanied by several appendices, including checklists, infograms and pathways.