The lead co-ordinator for social services should ensure that an adult protection conference is convened, chaired and a record taken (see local guidance for chairing arrangements).
The responsibilities of participants at the conference are to objectively analyse, in an inter-agency setting:
- all the concerns and the information which has been obtained from the section 126 enquiries and any investigations;
- the wishes and desired outcomes of the adult at risk;
- protective factors;
- any additional assessments required and/or completed;
- previous knowledge of involvement with services as an adult at risk;
- make judgements about the likelihood of ongoing abuse or neglect;
- decide what future action is required to enable the adult at risk to achieve their personal outcomes and how their care, support and protection needs can be met and with what intended outcomes.
The chair
Normally a conference will be chaired by a lead co-ordinator for social services. In certain circumstances another agency may chair the conference where that agency has more appropriate professional expertise or experience, who will be referred to as the delegated lead co-ordinator **.
In large-scale investigations a more senior/independent person may be required to co-ordinate and chair.
The chair of the conference should be satisfied that sufficient information is available in order for the conference to make an informed judgement about the continuing risk of abuse or neglect to the adult at risk.
Attendance of practitioners
Attendance will vary depending on those involved with the adult at risk and at the discretion of the lead coordinator but may include:
- the investigating officer;
- a note taker;
- a competent and experienced manager from each organisation involved;
- representatives from any other relevant organisations who can contribute to the care, support and protection plan;
- the care manager, care co-ordinator or key worker for the adult at risk;
- any other relevant professionals (e.g. the police, service contracts/commissioning staff, GP, psychiatrist or other health care workers involved with the adult at risk);
- a representative from the council’s legal department may also need to be invited.
- an advocate for the adult at risk
If any relevant practitioner is unable to attend, they must provide their contributory information in writing to the meeting.
All those attending should have the delegated authority to agree to make decisions about the provision of resources and services that will contribute to the protection plan.
Practitioners undertaking investigations
Any practitioner undertaking an investigation must submit a report summarising their findings and should also attend the adult protection conference.
Their report should be:
- shared with the adult at risk prior to the adult protection conference, unless a decision is made that to do so may not be in the adult’s best interests;
- based upon the facts established during the investigation;
- focused on the abuse/ neglect and what actions can safeguard the adult at risk;
- record who was interviewed, records accessed, and those not accessed and the reasons why;
- highlight any contradictory evidence;
- provide evidence to support any conclusions.