Adult protection investigations

Everyone has the right to live without being harmed. Most people can protect themselves and avoid things they don't want to happen to them, but for some, this is harder, often because of an illness or disability that makes them more vulnerable. If this applies to you, a social worker may be able to help.

Why Is a Social Worker Involved?

Under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, councils have a duty to act when someone may be at risk of harm. A social worker becomes involved when someone has raised concerns that you might be at risk and unable to protect yourself. They'll then make enquiries to find out more about your situation, to check:

• That you're safe
• Whether you're worried about being harmed by anyone
• Whether you're able to protect yourself
• Whether you need help to stay safe, and what support, including social work, might be available

What Happens Next?

You are the most important person in any adult protection investigation. A specially trained social worker, along with another worker (who may be a police officer), will arrange to talk with you about your situation and listen to your views.

Unless they believe you're unable to make your own decisions, or that someone is putting you under undue pressure to agree to things you're not comfortable with, your views will guide what happens next.

If you don't feel you're being harmed or at risk, and you're confident you can protect yourself, the social worker will usually just make a note of this, check you have the support you need to live safely, and take no further action unless you want them to.

If you are worried about being harmed, or about not being properly looked after, the social worker will talk with you about how they can help keep you safe. Often, simply talking things through can help. They may also:

• Make sure you have all the support you need to live safely
• Connect you with other people you can talk to about your worries
• Help you plan ways to keep yourself safe
• Speak to the person causing harm, so they understand how much distress this is causing you

The social worker may also speak to others to gather more information about your situation, and can arrange an advocate to help you express your views if you're finding this difficult.

Adult Protection Case Conferences

Once the social worker has spoken with you and gathered enough information about your situation and what you'd like to happen, they may call a meeting known as a case conference. This brings together everyone involved in supporting you, to discuss how best to help you stay safe. You'll be invited to attend, so you can share your concerns and how you'd like people to work with you.

Speaking in front of a room of people can feel difficult, but it's important that you, or your advocate, have the chance to raise what matters most to you. At the end of the meeting, everyone present will decide whether they believe you're at risk of harm, and agree on what support can be offered to reduce that risk.

In some cases, the council can use its legal powers to stop someone contacting you against your wishes, or to help you leave a harmful situation. If a crime has been committed against you, the council will work with the police to help protect you from further harm.