Briefings, reviews and reports

Duty of candour is a professional responsibility to be honest with people. It means being open and transparent in health and social care support. It also means that services must say sorry when things go wrong. The Duty of Candour Procedure (Scotland) Regulations 2018 came into force on 1 April 2018. These regulations apply when there is an event which causes unintended, or unexpected, harm to an individual receiving a health or care service.

This briefing looks at how legislation, policy, and services use the term ‘abuse’ and related terms such as 'victim'. Use of words surrounding abuse is complex, because how we talk about abuse can vary across contexts. It is also dynamic, because societal understanding of abuse has changed over the past decades. This briefing unpicks the different meanings the language of abuse can have - and how they have impacted policy and practice. Part of the Iriss outline series.

This is a short introduction into supporting adults at risk of harm to stay safer online. It helps practitioners gain awareness of online safety, helping address and explore online use with people who draw on support. It also acknowledges that technology and social media can be positive for those who may be (or feel) isolated.

Self-neglect is one of the key challenges in Adult Support and Protection. Research has identified that health and social care professionals often find self-neglect cases personally and professionally difficult. Ethical and legal considerations, particularly where adults have the mental capacity to refuse support, can be particularly challenging. This briefing sets out key knowledge on self-neglect, including definitions, potential causes, impacts, and directions for future research. Part of the Iriss outline series.

Dundee City Council’s Protecting People team have ideveloped a robust trauma-informed approach when working with people with lived experience. This report describes how adults with lived experience influence and contribute to local decision-making, including in Adult Support and Protection. The report stresses a sense of opportunity when working with people who have experienced trauma, and taking a strengths-based approach. This shifts the focus from risks and limitations, and creates opportunities to hear positive stories instead.

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.