Completion of Investigation Report and Risk Assessment
4.1 The Council Officer in conjunction with others will decide when to undertake an ASP Investigation which includes a full risk assessment. These will be completed before a Case Conference in order to inform the Chairperson in advance.
4.2 The adult being assessed should always remain at the centre of the assessment and subsequent decision-making.
4.3 The ASP Investigation report requires assessors to determine whether the adult assessed has specific communication needs or requires support from an advocacy service. The tool is designed to ensure that individual rights are recognised at the beginning of a risk assessment and that capacity is considered at this stage. The question of information sharing is included both at the beginning and end of the risk assessment, to ensure that the adults views are sought where it is agreed that information sharing is required against the person’s wishes the reasons for this should be clearly recorded.
4.4 The Risk Assessment provides a format for bringing together comprehensive, relevant information, the tool reflects an expectation that professional opinion/ judgement is required about the risk and any protective action which might be needed.
Chronologies
4.5 It is widely recognised that people are most effectively safeguarded when professionals work together and share information. Individual events may appear to be insignificant ‘one-offs’. However, they should be recorded in the chronology as they may be part of a pattern, which would raise serious concern.
4.6 Chronologies provide a sequential list of dates of significant events in a person’s life. They enable practitioners to gain a more accurate picture of the whole case and detail the history of a person and their family. They highlight gaps and missing details that require further assessment and identification. Chronologies can also highlight risks, concerns, patterns, themes, strengths, resilience and weaknesses of a person and their family. Current information can then be understood in the context of previous case history and inform professional assessment.
4.7 If chronologies are to be of value, they should be:
- written in a consistent format using the multi-agency template to ensure that information can be effectively merged and sorted
- succinct recordings of significant events including people involved and dates in ascending date order i.e. earliest date first
- systematically and regularly shared with relevant professionals
- owned by professionals and used as a tool in assessing progress and the level of concern
- a record of both positive and negative significant events – positive events might increase protective factors and decrease risk
- informing the decision-making process at any given point
4.8 It is essential that all professionals and agencies understand that they should be active participants in preparing chronologies. Each agency has a responsibility to maintain an up-to-date chronology for every adult at risk of harm and/ or under ASP processes. Single agency chronologies should ensure that information describing key incidents, events and facts are passed on to the Council Officer at appropriate stages throughout the process. The Council Officer’s responsibility is to ensure that the chronology is collated, up to date and presented appropriately.
Conclusion of Investigation
4.9 Following the Investigation, the Council Officer and second person will discuss with the agreed manager the further action to be taken. There are a range of possible outcomes and one or more of the following may be initiated. Please note that each adult’s circumstance is different and may require an alternative measure not listed here.
Investigation decision:
(i) Where the adult does not meet criteria as an adult at risk of harm - possible decisions are:
- no further action under Adult Protection procedures
- signpost to another appropriate service
- concerns dealt with through care management
- use of other relevant legislation
(ii) Where the adult at risk of harm criteria is met and harm is established or suspected then the possible decisions are:
- agree an Interim Protection Plan
- proceed to Case Conference
- consider intervention under Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 or the Mental Health Care and Treatment (Scotland) Act 2003
- use of other relevant legislation
Police Involvement
4.10 In the majority of ASP situations there will be no criminal investigation. The risk assessment is not about being able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the harm happened or who is alleged to be the source of this harm, but about the probability the harm happened, that it is probable it was caused by the individual(s) suspected and the probability that the circumstances will reoccur. The risk assessment assists in considering the severity of the harm and the consequences for the adult if no action is taken to reduce the risk(s).
4.11 Decision-making around any actions required therefore needs to be supported by objective evidence, user preference (wherever possible) and professional opinion.
Where the Adult Does Not Engage
4.12 Where an adult has capacity and meets the criteria 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.
Feedback to Referrer
4.13 In all cases Social Work Services will inform referring individual/ agencies of the outcome of the Investigation. Where referred by a member of the public they should be assured that their concerns will be taken seriously, and inquiries will be made however no other information will be given without the adult’s consent.