A consultation has begun to seek views on a new guidance to improve the arrangements for reviewing and learning from cases of adult abuse and neglect.
This work will complement the new adult protection legal framework being introduced through the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill.
The proposed arrangements for Adult Protection Reviews have taken into consideration the format of the Child Practice Reviews that were introduced to replace Serious Case Reviews, and how this might be applied in an adult social care context.
Draft guidance has been developed and discussed extensively with practitioners, from local authorities, health, police, care services and the social services inspectorate (CSSIW).
The draft guidance is being tested out by three Safeguarding Adults Boards which currently need to undertake serious case reviews and a fourth review is being considered. This experience will be considered during the drafting of the framework for the reviews, along with any submissions received during a 12-week consultation period.
Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister for Social Services, said:
“Abuse and neglect of adults is totally unacceptable and I am determined to do all I can to safeguard vulnerable people in Wales. When abuse does take place however, it is vital that there is an effective system to review what has happened and to learn from the experience so that our multi-agency protection arrangements can be improved.
“We have developed an innovative review framework to improve the culture of learning from adult protection cases.
“This is an important shift in culture that allows practitioners to reflect and learn from positive circumstances as well as being open, honest and transparent when things have gone wrong.”
