This forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Multi-Agency Adult Support and Protection Guidance.
1. Adult Support and Protection (ASP) Referral Process
1.1 Referrers should consider their own agency’s ASP and referral procedures in the first instance.
1.2 All referrals, including anonymous referrals, should be taken seriously. Cases must be considered with an open mind without assuming that harm has, or has not, occurred. 1.3 Referrals should be sent to the local authority where the adult is currently present (host authority).
1.4 Where harm has occurred out with the host authority it is still the host authority’s responsibility to carry out all necessary inquiries. It is expected that the host authority will contact the local authority where the person normally resides to alert them to the Adult Protection Referral.
1.5 Following the initial Inquiry both councils will enter into negotiations on how best to take forward the Adult Protection Referral.
1.6 In Dumfries and Galloway all ASP Referrals go via the Single Access Point (Tel: 030 33 33 3001, email: Accessteam@dumgal.gov.uk or if out of hours: Tel: 030 33 33 3001, email: socialworkoutofhours@dumgal.gov.uk). ASP Referrals commence processing within 1 working day of the concerns being received..
Duty to Report
1.7 Public agencies have a duty to report any suspected or actual harm to an adult at risk. This should occur within 1 working day of the concerns being noted.
1.8 The 2007 Act and Code of Practice (2022) states that certain bodies and office holders must, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of their functions, co-operate with a council making inquiries under Section 4 of the Act.
1.9 The bodies and officeholders listed in Section 5 of the Act are:
- The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
- SCSWIS (The Care Inspectorate)
- Healthcare Improvement Scotland
- Office of the Public Guardian
- All Councils
- Chief Constable of Police Scotland
- The relevant Health Board
- Any other public body or officeholder as the Scottish Ministers may by order specify
1.10 Where a named public body or officeholder knows or believes that a person is an adult at risk and action needs to be taken in order to protect that person from harm, then that public body or officeholder must report the facts and circumstances of the case to the council for the area where they believe the person to be located. Staff should also be clear who they have a duty to report to within their own organisations.