Conclusion of Inquiry and How to Proceed
4.1 The responsible Social Work Manager will decide - using information gathered from the Inquiry, professional judgement, liaison with other agencies and evidence-based practice - on how best to proceed with the referral.
Possible Outcomes of an Inquiry
4.2 There are 3 possible outcomes of an Inquiry.
(i) The adult at risk criteria are not met and no further action under Adult Protection is required.
However, this does not absolve agencies of their responsibilities and other actions could be appropriate such as:
- Refer for assessment under Self-Directed Support
- Consider other appropriate legislation
- Where an open case review existing risk assessment and risk management plan
- Refer to another more appropriate agency
- Case closed as no further action required
(ii) The adult at risk criteria are met under the Act and an Investigation is required.
If a decision is reached that further action is to be undertaken under the Act, then the following actions must be recorded and actioned by the responsible Manager in Social Work:
- Agree who will be the ‘Council Officer’ to lead the Adult Protection Investigation, and who will be the second person involved.
- Agree the plan and timing for the Adult Protection Investigation including consideration of advocacy and other services, any communication needs, and involvement of other appropriate services - for example, Health, Children and Families Services, Legal Guardian, services for black and minority ethnic groups as well any other requirements that would facilitate the Investigation
(iii)The adult at risk criteria are met but declines intervention
Where an adult has capacity and meets the criteria of the Act but indicates that they do not wish support, this does not absolve the council and partners of their responsibilities to cooperate and consider protective measures for the adult. While the adult has the right not to engage with the process, the appropriate partners should still meet to consider what action could be taken in the best interest of the adult at risk of harm; this could include a Care or Protection Plan or advice or support with the individual where possible, to manage identified risks. Therefore, it may be that Social Work Services will continue further Investigation without the adult’s consent or involvement.
Planning Meeting
4.3 A planning meeting is an opportunity for professionals across the multi-agency field to share information and agree on how best to support and protect the adult at risk. A planning meeting can occur at any time in the Adult Protection process.
Outcomes
4.4 Best practice would be that referring agencies are notified of the outcome. Where the referrer is a member of the public, they should be assured that concerns will be taken seriously, and no further information would be provided without the adult’s consent.
4.5 For professionals - for example, GPs - an outcome provides confirmation of action taken under the Act and the adult’s current status i.e. is not an adult at risk, so that this can be recorded.
Self-Directed Support
4.6 Self-Directed Support aims to set out a cultural shift around the delivery of support and it recognises that people have the right to a choice of support and control on how this is delivered. This suggests that a care/ support plan may aim to manage risk in as safe a way as is possible while still accepting that the adult has the right to self-determine how he/ she lives their life. In this case the support plan requires to be monitored and reviewed to ensure that the plan is effective or if there is a need to revisit the risk/ harm to the adult again under Adult Support and Protection.
Referral Escalation Process
4.7 Where 3 protection related referrals for an adult are received by Social Work for within 30 days, escalation is triggered. A DTI or IRD should be considered for such adults, where it is believed that the ASP 3-point criteria have been met. The Adult MASH will consider the most appropriate action. For adults who do not meet the threshold for ASP, Social Work will consider the most appropriate action to mitigate any identified risk.
4.8 Further information on escalation can be found in Chapter 5.