Wales Interim Policy and Procedures
for the Protection of
Vulnerable Adults from Abuse
An overview of the changes and
expectations the new guidance
will bring.
POVA Co-ordinator
The Interim Policy
• Wales Policy and Procedures for the Protection
of Vulnerable Adults from Abuse: is intended to
guide the safeguarding work of all those
concerned with the welfare of vulnerable adults
employed in the statutory, third (voluntary) and
private sectors, in health, social care, the police
and other services
• It is not expected that all health and social care
workers involved in the care of vulnerable adults
will read this long document
Safeguarding in Wales
• Adult protection work has evolved rapidly since
the Welsh Office issued the guidance document
In Safe Hands in 2000 and continues to do so.
It has been written in accordance with the
current guidance and the Welsh Assembly plans
to consult on proposals for future adult
protection arrangements early in 2011, following
upon its review of In Safe Hands. Revised
Assembly guidance is expected in 2011 and
there are also other potential changes to the
context of Adult Protection. .
Currently
• Stage 1 – The Alert
• Stage 4 – Strategy
Meeting (within 3
• Stage 2 – Written
days of the referral)
Referral – (within
24hrs of the Alert)
• Stage 5 –
Investigation
• Stage 3 – Strategy
Discussion (within two • Stage 6 – Case
working days of the
Conference( within 15
alert)
working days of the
referral)
Wales Interim Policy
• Stage 1-The alert
• Stage 2 - Referral (within
24hrs)
• Stage 3- Strategy
discussion (within 48hrs)
• Stage 4 - Strategy
Meeting (within 7 days of
the referral)
• Stage 5 - Investigation.
(Appropriate timescales
agreed at Strategy
Meeting)
• Stage 6 – Re-convened
Strategy Meeting
• Stage 7 - Case
Conference (Agreed date
set at Strategy Meeting)
• Stage 8 - Implement
actions (agreed
timescales)
• Stage 9 - Review of an
adult protection plan
(within 6 weeks of the
Case Conference)
• Stage 10 - Closure
Changes – Stages
• 6 stages
• Often cases close without a
Case Conference thus the
Vulnerable Adult is not central
to the process.
• Stages
dictated
by
unachievable timescales that
cannot be met.
• The use of different meetings
not clear.
• Policy suggests that actions
are set at meetings but no
guidance to say that the case
should remain open until they
are complete.
• 10 stages
• Case
Conferences
and
Vulnerable Adults attending
are central to the process and
necessary.
• Timescales
changed
to
ensure they can be met. Type
of meetings changed.
• Review
meetings
not
necessarily needed. Current
guidance highlights the need
for a formal POVA review.
This is not necessarily
needed.
• POVA process to remain
open until evidence suggests
the actions have been
complete.
Additions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mental Capacity Act
Mental Health Act 2007.
Advocacy
Escalating concerns
One set of paperwork
APC unified
Regional Forums unified
All Wales Serious Case
Review guidance.
• More focus on prevention
• Thresholds
• Risk Assessment,
prioritisation and
response.
• MAPPA
• Roles clarified
• POVA roles clarified
• Glossary of Terms
• Child Protection
Additions
• Definitions and
categories of abuse
remain the same as In
Safe Hands
• Vulnerable Adult on
Vulnerable Adult abuse
explored further
• Vulnerable Adults
attending Strategy
Meetings.
• ISA
• More guidance on
domestic violence
• Deprivation of Liberty
• Forced Marriage
• Data collection
• Keeping families and
others informed.
• Responsibilities to
alleged perpetrators.
Non-Criminal Investigations
Best practice promotes:
• Statutory Agency should lead on all
investigations.
• Not the care manager and should not go on to
be care manager.
• Ideally not providers
• Health and Social Services to chair/investigate in
certain complex cases for independence.
• Managing Non-Criminal Investigation Tool
Criminal Investigations
•
•
•
•
•
•
Police Decision Forms
Achieving Best Evidence.
Promoting successful prosecutions.
Criminal Investigations
Intermediaries
Strategy discussion with Public Protection
Unit Supervisor.
Health – One system for all
• Clinical Governance versus POVA –thresholds
differed.
• Critical incident policy/ Root cause analysis –
Investigation process.
• Non-criminal investigation tool to be followed for
POVA investigations
• Complaints / POVA screening.
• Role of Health Boards
Key Messages
SEE SOMETHING
SAY SOMETHING
DO SOMETHING
http://www.ssiacymru.org.uk/media/pdf/t/2/Wales_Adult_Protection_Policy_and_
Procedure_-_FINAL_30_November_2010.doc