Chronicling care and registering concern: the use of an at‐risk register for vulnerable adults
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668203200000029 |
| Published date | 01 November 2000 |
| Date | 01 November 2000 |
| Pages | 33-35 |
| Author | Mike Linnett |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 2 Issue 4 • November 2000 © Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Limited 33
abstract
Few areas have decided to
implement a formal at-risk register
in respect of vulnerable adults and
adult abuse, although many have
markers or other recording aids in
use. One of the few authorities
which has developed a formal
system is Gloucestershire. Here the
county’s adults at risk co-ordinator ,
Mike Linnett, offers a personal
view of the advantages and
disadvantages of using registration.
Gloucestershire has had multi-agency adults at risk procedures
since 1990. These were revised in 1992 and a unit was then
created to develop the procedures formally by providing a
referral point for all cases of vulnerable adults considered to
be at risk of abuse, exploitation or neglect. The unit provides
consultation, advice and co-ordination of response including
the convening and chairing of case discussions and confer-
ences. Training and information, statistics gathering,
education and service development are also part of the brief.
Adult protection case conferences are recognised to be
key elements in the assessment and decision-making process
and hence every effort is made to ensure that they operate
professionally. Accordingly it is Gloucestershire’s norm to
invite the vulnerable adult (and advocate if applicable) to
participate, while carers are invited with the agreement of
the vulnerable adult.
In Gloucestershire, as elsewhere, we look to the conference
to produce two main outcomes: a care plan to manage risk
and the appointment of a key worker. However, unlike most
other authorities we also ask the conference to consider the
need for formal registration as an essential part of the process
– a practice which I am aware, can be considered controversial.
Having run an adults at risk unit since 1992, my experience
of the system inclines me to believe that registration is a useful
device that has helped the unit operate effectively. I will
attempt, therefore, to outline what benefits there are for
registration and the possible disadvantages.
Chronicling care
and registering concern:
the use of an at-risk register
for vulnerable adults Mike Linnett
Adults at Risk Co-ordinator,
Gloucestershire Social Services Department
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Practice paper
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