Technical Notes 2024, Issue 38 - Joint Inspection of Adult Support and Protection Services in East Dunbartonshire – Publication of Inspection Report
Report by:
Caroline Sinclair, HSCP Chief Officer and Chief Social Work Officer
TN Number:
038-24
Subject:
Joint Inspection of Adult Support and Protection Services in East Dunbartonshire – Publication of Inspection Report
Responsible Officer:
David Aitken, Head of Adult Services
Publication:
This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.
Section
On the 16th October 2023 the Care Inspectorate, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland wrote to the Chief Executive of East Dunbartonshire Council to advise that they would undertake a joint inspection of Adult Support and Protection arrangements in East Dunbartonshire.
The focus of the joint inspection was to provide:
Independent scrutiny and assurance of how partnerships ensure that adults at risk of harm are kept safe, protected, and supported.
Assurance to Scottish Ministers about how effectively partnerships have implemented the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.
The Inspection Team conducted the investigation focussing upon two particular areas of our work and quality indicators:
Key adult support and protection processes.
Leadership for adult support and protection.
The Inspection was undertaken in phases between November 2023 and January 2024. Actions carried out included a staff survey, preparation of a position statement, provision of relevant supporting evidence, file reading and sampling of Social Work, NHS and Police Scotland records, and focus groups with staff across the partnership and third sector. The report can be accessed on this link to the Care Inspectorate’s publications web page.
East Dunbartonshire’s Joint Inspection report highlights significant areas of good practice and areas for further development and concluded on an assessment grading for the two quality indicators:
Key adult support and protection processes – Effective with Recommendations; and
Leadership for adult support and protection - Effective with Recommendations.
This evaluation is applied identifying that there are clear strengths supporting positive experiences and outcomes for adults at risk of harm, which collectively outweighed the areas for improvement.
The report highlights the following summary of strengths and areas of good practice:
Adult support and protection inquiries were undertaken in line with the revised code of practice. They were comprehensive, collaborative, and effectively determined whether the three-point criteria was met.
The quality of completed chronologies was a clear strength. Strong collaboration and promotion of a trauma informed approach supported effective decision making and protective actions.
Adult support and protection investigations were competent and comprehensive. A significant number of health professionals were trained as second workers. This ensured that adults at risk of harm benefitted from a collaborative and multi-agency approach.
Strategic leaders effectively communicated the joint vision for adult support and protection. This was well understood by staff at all levels.
The report highlighted three priority areas for improvement:
The partnership should promote more consistent use of chronologies to inform analysis and better reflect the impact of life events on the adult at risk of harm.
The partnership should ensure that risk assessments are undertaken, and case conferences held for all adults at risk of harm when necessary. These are key components of protection and support for adults and will improve how protection risks are identified and mitigated.
The partnership’s self-evaluation framework should be assessed and refined to ensure it can identify all areas for improvement. This will strengthen leadership and governance of adult support and protection practice across the partnership.
Additional commendation was given in relation to the staff survey response which the Joint Inspection Team identified as one of the strongest staff survey returns nationally, reflecting the strength of our collaborative working and collective and shared ownership of adult support and protection.
An Action/Improvement Plan will be developed in response to the areas for improvement identified and this is to be submitted to the Care Inspectorate by the 24th April 2024. The Action/Improvement Plan will be overseen by the Adult Protection Committee reporting to the Chief Officers Group.
