Review
Everyone
The purpose of the review is to ensure that the actions agreed in the adult protection plan have taken place and whether any further action is needed.
The protection plan review can take place as part of another review meeting - e.g. a care plan review meeting if all the relevant people will be in attendance. If this is the case the items from the protection plan review agenda must all be incorporated in the review meeting.
If the protection plan is not protecting the person at risk, a review should take place as soon as possible. Where abuse is escalating this must be taken as a sign of serious risk.
The protection plan co-ordinator is responsible for convening the review meeting, they will normally Chair the meeting. But, if the plan is not working or if there are other significant issues to be addressed any person involved can request that the APRAC Chairs the meeting.
A review can be brought forward at the request of the person at risk, someone acting in the best interests of a person at risk who does not have mental capacity to request a review, any one involved with the current protection plan or any of the people who were invitees to the protection plan meeting.
If there are new concerns of abuse or neglect e.g. about different types of abuse or from a different cause these should be considered as an alert and the subject of a new adult protection referral.
The review should be attended by all those involved in the current protection plan and any services that may be able to provide changes.
The review should:
- Decide responsibility for ongoing management of the protection plan (if needed)
- Decide whether or not a further review is needed and if so to set a date
- Record the feedback of the person and/or the person acting in their best interests (if they do not have mental capacity)
- Where there is an ongoing risk of abuse, review meetings should take place at least every six months. If it is known that the protection plan will need to be changed at a particular date (e.g. when the perpetrator is released from prison) then a date should be set to review the plan before that happens in time to meet that contingency
- If it is safe to do so, the person at risk of abuse should be invited to the protection plan meeting
Where they do not have mental capacity in this respect a person acting in their best interests should be invited. The APRAC has the power to commission an IMCA (if one has not already been appointed) to help with decision making - A carer should only be invited to the protection plan meeting with the explicit consent of the person who has been experiencing abuse or neglect or if it is in the best interests of a mentally incapacitated adult
- In Situation 1 the person at risk must be supported to take a lead in deciding whether the protection plan is working and given information about other options that may improve it
- There may be some information about the person causing the abuse that they do not have the right to hear e.g. past criminal offences – in which case that information must be shared before the person joins the meeting and a decision made about what, if any, of that information can be shared
- If the person does not have mental capacity to make decisions about the protection plan then someone should decide in their best interests. It is best practice for an independent advocate to represent their views at the review. The APRAC has the power to appoint an IMCA (if one has not already been appointed) to advise them of the person’s best interests in any decisions being taken during the review
- In Situation 3 a decision should be made as to how best to involve the person in the review. Where this does not breach the rights or confidentiality of any one else (including the alleged perpetrator) they or their chosen representative should be included. It may be that they are invited to part of any meeting
- Where it is not possible for the person or their representative to attend the review - because it would involve breaching the confidentiality of others - the person should be asked their views beforehand. These views should be represented at the meeting by an advocate or key worker. Where the person does not have mental capacity in this respect then a person acting in their best interests or an IMCA should be consulted and those views should be represented at the meeting
- It may sometimes form part of an adult protection plan to involve the person who has caused the abuse or neglect to attend the review meeting. This must only take place with the explicit consent of the person who has been experiencing abuse/neglect. If the person at risk does not have mental capacity to give such consent someone else should decide in their best interests
- Once the review discussion/meeting has taken place the protection plan co-ordinator should ensure form AP4 is sent to the APRAC together with the minutes of any review meeting
- AP4 should then be passed by the APRAC to the appropriate administrator - Care Management admin team for Adult Services staff; Adult Protection Unit for BDCT staff for data collection
- A copy should also be sent to all organisations that have a role in the protection plan
- Unless this would put them at greater risk of abuse a copy should also be sent to the individual at risk and with the individuals consent it can also be sent to another person e.g. a carer. If the individual does not have mental capacity to give that consent a best interests decision should be made. Where there is information that cannot be shared with them e.g. about the alleged perpetrator this should be deleted before the form is sent
- Where AP4 is sent to a person acting on behalf of the person at risk e.g. a carer the APRAC should make a decision as to whether any of the alleged perpetrators details are included on that form. This decision should be taken in consultation with the person’s employer if the suspected abuse has taken place in the course of their employment
- If a form cannot be sent to the person or their representative – e.g. because this would put them at greater risk - a person from one of the agencies must be designated within the protection plan to ensure that the person receives feedback about the decisions that have been made and given the chance to make their views about this known.
- If relevant a person from one of the agencies must be designated within the plan to give direct feedback to the alleged perpetrator - this must be done within the boundaries of any ongoing or proposed investigation and with due regard for the alleged perpetrators Human Rights. If the alleged perpetrator does not have mental capacity to understand the feedback this will be given to the person acting in their best interests. If the suspected abuse has taken place in the course of a person’s employment then the feedback will normally be given by their employer. Care must be taken not to share information that could increase any potential risk
- A new AP4 form should be returned for every subsequent review meeting until the case is closed
- The adult protection case will be closed if there is no longer a need for a protection plan or if the protection plan has been incorporated into other case management processes
- If a case is closed but later the risk increases or abuse or neglect occur then a new adult protection referral should be made.
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