Core Groups
3.1 These are normally led by the Social Worker (Council Officer) and minutes are taken by a member of the ASP Admin Team. The Core Group should include the adult and a group of identified professionals involved in the direct support of the adult.
3.2 Core Groups occur 6-weeks after a Case Conference and are tasked with reviewing and monitoring the Adult Support and Protection Plan as well as gaining updates on actions from the Initial or Review Conferences.
3.3 The Core Group will report back to the Chair and Review Case Conference and will:
- explore any significant events or changes since the last meeting or finalise end actions (End of ASP Core Group)
- explore what is working well and what needs to get better
- consider and involve the adult in discussion along with their views
- record any disagreements within the minute and/ or the Protection Plan
- update the Protection Plan
Adult Support and Protection - Review Case Conference
3.4 A Review Case Conference should be held within 3 months of the Adult Support and Protection Initial Case Conference. Subsequent Review Conferences should take place every 3 months as a minimum, or as required.
3.5 The purpose of the Review Case Conference is to:
- summarise support and outcomes to date and to confirm the current situation
- review risk management plans and establish current level of risk
- ensure agreed duties and responsibilities across partner agencies have been fulfilled and agree any remedial action where required
- review and if necessary, update the Protection Plan
- ensure intervention or legal powers exercised in relation to the Principles of the ASP Act remains proportionate and are the least restrictive option in terms of maximising benefit and offering effective protection to the adult
Concluding Adult Support and Protection Processes
3.6 The decision to end the Adult Protection process should be taken at either the Initial or Review Case Conference. The decision should be defensible and recorded in the minute.
3.7 For the Case Conference, the initial Investigation report and/ or Core Group minute should be available. Consideration should also be given to the risk heightening factors and risk reducing factors to inform an updated Protection Plan at a Review Case Conference to inform decision-making.
3.8 There are three key elements that require to be considered before ending the Adult Protection process:
1. Current and Future of Risk:
(i) Is the adult still experiencing harm and/ or is there a likelihood they will continue to experience harm if this process ends?
(ii) Have the actions of the Protection Plan been implemented and have they achieved their intended outcomes?
(iii) Has the individual(s) alleged to be causing the harm cooperated with the plan, including any protection orders?
(iv) Is the individual(s) alleged to be causing the harm still in contact and/ or are they likely to re-establish contact if the Adult Protection process ends?
(v) Have there been any significant issues in relation to the adult and/ or relative, carer or significant other(s)?
(vi) What steps have been taken to overcome all or any of these issues?
2. Current views of all relevant parties:
(i) What is the view of the adult, have they been spoken to alone and have they been seen at home?
(ii) What is the view of the carer(s), relative(s) or significant other(s)?
(iii) Have the views of the relevant professionals been sought or considered within or out with the Case Conference processes?
3. Future Planning and Arrangements:
(i) Is there evidence that the adult at risks welfare will be safeguarded and promoted should the Adult Protection process end, or the case closed?
(ii) What will be the ongoing care and support plan?
(iii) Are there risks how best managed via another process – care management, care programme approach, use of other legislation and processes?
(iv) If further adult concerns arise is the adult, carer(s), significant other(s), care provider(s), and any other agencies clear as to how to escalate?
(v) If the case is to be closed is the adult, carer(s), significant other(s), care provider(s), and any other agencies clear as to how/ who to refer back to?
End of ASP Core Groups
3.9 These occur 6 weeks following the ending of the ASP involvement with the adult. The purpose of this is to ensure that actions from the Case Conference have been completed and appropriate supports remain in place.