A joint progress review of adult support and protection in South Ayrshire has found significant improvement in ensuring that adults at risk of harm are safe, protected and supported.
Inspectors also noted further improvements by the partnership were still necessary in some key areas.
Inspectors found that strategic leaders prioritised adult support and protection by investing in resources and capacity, and by implementing new guidance and procedures. This improved the overall quality and competence of the work.
The partnership’s strategic leadership had also shown a strong commitment to continuous learning and improvement. They empowered staff in specialist roles and significantly strengthened operational oversight, resulting in more robust and effective decision-making in adult support and protection.
The implementation of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Associate Nurse Director for Public Protection, along with other initiatives, had further positive impact on both operational and strategic practices in the partnership.
However, Police Scotland had inconsistently applied policies and practices across several areas, which, when combined, had weakened the overall effectiveness of the partnership’s adult support and protection activities.
The progress review also found that the partnership should improve the recording of individuals’ life events in chronologies to enhance analysis and better reflect the impact on adults at risk of harm. This would improve better-informed decision-making and more effective support.
The adult protection committee actively sought consultation with individuals who have lived experience and have created various initiatives. However, the voices and experiences of adults at risk of harm, as well as their carers, still needed to be more strongly reflected in strategic planning and development.
Jackie Irvine, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “In response to the 2021 inspection, the partnership commendably oversaw significant improvement in almost all key areas for improvement. The partnership’s strategic leadership team had also made significant progress to improving the overall quality of adult support and protection working practices.
“The Care Inspectorate will continue to engage with the partnership to inform future improvement work. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland will also arrange to discuss continuing priority areas for improvement with the partnership. The partnership should ensure it is represented on the National Implementation Group’s chronology subgroup so that it partakes in the learning opportunities this forum presents. This will support improvement in this area of practice.”
The full report can be read here.