Adult Protection Committee

Who to Contact  |  What to do if you are concerned 

What is the Argyll and Bute Adult Protection Committee? 

   Why was the Act Introduced? | Useful Links 

                            Adult Protection Procedures | Adult Protection Performance

What to do if you are concerned about an adult at risk

If you are worried about an adult there are some key questions to think about:

• Is the person over 16 years of age?
• Is the person unable to safe guard their own possessions or own needs?
• Are they at risk of harm?
• Are they affected by ill health, disability,mental disorder, illness or infirmity?

If the answer is yes to all of these questions, then please call us to talk to a member of staff, or you can tell us about your concerns using our online form.

What should I say?

If you start by telling the person who answers the phone that you are worried about an adult who is at risk of harm. This will mean that they will arrange for you to speak to someone who can take the information from you about who and what you are worried about.

What will you need to tell us?

The name and address of the person at risk of harm and the reason you are concerned about them.

Who should you contact?

The Adult Protection Contact Details page gives you the address and contact telephone number for each area within Argyll and Bute, or you can contact us using our online form.

If your concerns are outwith normal office hours, please contact Glasgow Standby on 0800 811 505.

Useful Links

Some links to other websites you might find useful -

Office of Public Sector Information: www.legislation.gov.uk
Scottish Government: www.scotland.gov.uk
Joint Improvement Team: www.jitscotland.org.uk
Action on Elder Abuse: www.elderabuse.org.uk
Enable: www.enable.org.uk
MIND: www.mind.org.uk
Scottish Women's Aid: www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk
Age Concern Scotland: www.ageconcernandhelptheagedscotland.org.uk
Care Commission: www.carecommission.com
Mental Welfare Commission: www.mwcscot.org.uk
Office of the Public Guardian: www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk

More Information about the Adult Protection Committee

Adult protection is one of the most important duties that we all have and this section has been designed to offer information about how we are addressing the issue in our area.

I hope you find the information on this page interesting and helpful and would be pleased to receive any comments you might have to help us develop it further.

Bill Brackenridge
Independent Chair of Adult Protection Committee

What is the Argyll and Bute Adult Protection Committee

Our Vision

• We are committed to ensuring that adults in Argyll and Bute who need to access support and protection from harm get this in timely, effective and empowering ways.

We respect -

• The right of adult’s to make their own life decisions. We will work to promote this.
• Adult’s rights to express their view of their circumstances. Where necessary we will support their actions to manage their own affairs.
• The key role carers play in supporting dependent adults and we will take account of their views in following up reports of harm to adults.
• The social and cultural diversity with Argyll and Bute and are committed to ensuring equality of access to support and protection for all who require it.

We aim to -

• Provide support and protection when circumstances in their lives occur whereby they are subjected to ‘risk of harm’.
• Work to promote and support the adults independent decision making where that is achievable.
• Develop a framework of Guidance and Standards which promotes effective and flexible responses to reports of ‘adults at risk of harm’.
• Develop effective inter-agency partnerships in responding to reports of ‘adults at risk of harm’.
• Deliver effective inter-agency training to staff to ensure a skilled response to reports of harm to adults.
• Support families, carers and communities as they support those who are unable to meet all of their own needs.
• Work to promote effective communication with communities in Argyll and Bute in the area of work in Adult Support and Protection.

Why was the Act introduced?

Most adults with mental illness, physical or learning disabilities or other special needs manage to live their lives comfortably and securely. They either do this independently or with assistance from carers, relatives, friends, professionals or volunteers. However for a small number, dependence on someone may produce conflict, exploitation or abuse.

The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 was implemented on 29th October 2008.

The Act makes provisions intended to protect adults who are unable to safeguard their own interests such as those who are affected by disability, mental disorder, illness, or physical or mental infirmity and who are ‘at risk of harm’  (including self harm).

The Act is underpinned by a range of principles including the necessity of ensuring that any interventions in an adult’s life should be to their benefit and the least restrictive to the adult’s freedom.

The Act sets out duties and powers for councils in relation to interventions where it is ‘knows or believes’ that a person is an adult at risk and that it might have to intervene to protect the person.  When such information is available from whatever source the council has a duty to make inquiries.    This to ensure that any ‘adult at risk’ is given support and/or protection to remove or reduce the risk of harm they are facing.