Practitioners participating in a strategy meeting/discussion are members of a task-focused group who must work collaboratively to meet the care and support protection needs of the adult at risk.
The group is most likely to achieve this task if:
- all participants understand their roles and responsibilities in delivering the plan;
- the difference between joint decision-making and local authority accountability is explicit;
- differing perceptions of risk from abuse and neglect and the implications for practice are addressed;
- each practitioner actively engages with the adult at risk in line with their role and responsibilities;
- practitioners’ anxieties and concerns about conflict and aggression are addressed;
- the contributions of all practitioners are recognised and valued;
- members are not afraid to challenge other practitioners and/or the carers/family;
- practitioners avoid professional jargon and do not presume that everyone understands what initials stand for;
- any venue should feel comfortable to and be accessible to the adult at risk. It is important not to make presumptions about an appropriate venue without actively consulting the adult at risk;
- meetings are held at a time which makes attendance easy for the adult at risk and their carers.