This forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Multi-Agency Adult Support and Protection Guidance.
1. Case Conference, Chair, Exclusions
1.1 Following the Investigation, if a decision is made to proceed to Case Conference the responsible manager should convene an Initial Case Conference within 5 working days of completion of the Investigation Report.
1.2 There are no statutory provisions relating to Case Conferences.
Purpose of a Case Conference
1.3 An Adult Support and Protection Case Conference is a multi-agency forum, held to share information and make decisions about how to support and protect an adult deemed to be at risk in circumstances where harm has occurred or is suspected. The adult should, where possible, be invited to contribute as fully as possible.
1.4 Case Conference decisions will always seek to protect an adult by the use of informal protection measures but will also consider the need for statutory protection measures under the 2007 Act or other relevant legislation. All relevant reports should be submitted before the Case Conference and the risk assessment will have a completed chronology of significant events to inform the multi-agency meeting and assist with protection planning. The adult or their representative may also wish to submit a report or viewpoint for consideration at the Case Conference and the responsible manager should ensure that all information is passed to the Chairperson as soon as possible.
Responsibilities of the Chairperson
1.5 The Chairperson will be an experienced manager, with relevant knowledge and understanding of adult support and protection legislation and procedures. They must have experience in risk assessment and protection planning and have knowledge of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 and the Mental Health Care and Treatment (Scotland) Act 2003 to ensure that decision-making is informed by an appropriate legislation knowledge base. Where the Chairperson requires more specialised knowledge then an appropriately trained team manager, member of Legal Services or appropriate medical practitioner should be in attendance to give advice.
1.6 Case Conferences should be an inclusive process involving the adult at risk of harm and all relevant agencies with an interest where reasonable and practicable. Case Conferences can be either face-to-face, via MS Team or a combination of both to suit the adult’s preferences.
1.7 Iriss has developed an online learning resource regarding multi-agency ASP Case Conferences.
Invitations to Adult Support and Protection Case Conferences
1.8 The adult at risk should be invited and encouraged to express their views. However, they should not feel pressurised to attend. Should they choose not to attend, then they may wish to nominate someone to represent them e.g. independent advocacy, or provide a written or recorded account of their views. There may be occasions where it is not appropriate to invite the adult due to issues of the adult’s capacity to participate, where the nature of discussions could cause distress to the adult or otherwise increase risk.
1.9 The relevant manager will ensure that all appropriate people are invited - for example, GPs, Police, health professionals, care staff, and Social Workers and, where appropriate, the adult subjected to harm, their advocacy worker, and/ or carer should be invited unless there are grounds to exclude them - for example:
- the person could be a source of risk
- there could be a conflict of interest
- there may be concerns that confidentiality would not be maintained
- an ongoing Police investigation may be compromised
- undue pressure towards the adult
1.10 If the Chairperson is asked to exclude anyone this decision should be made prior to the meeting and decision recorded in the minute.