Forth Valley Public Protection

Issue 1 - Winter 2016 Newsletter

Welcome to the first edition of the Forth Valley Public Protection Newsletter. Inside this Issue Child Protection______2 This newsletter has Gender Based Violence______4 been produced by the MAPPA Matters______6 Public Protection Forth Valley Alcohol and lead officers across Clackmannanshire, Drugs Partnership______8 Falkirk and council Adult Support & Protection___ 10 areas and includes national and local information about child protection, adult protection, substance misuse, gender based violence and the Multi-agency Aberfoyle Thornhill Public Protection Arrangements. Menstrie Alva Dollar Tillicoultry Tullibody Details of all the multi-agency Clackmannan STIRLING ALLOA Clackmannan partnerships and the lead officers Fallin can be found below. Please do Cowie Airth Kincardine contact us if you want further information or to discuss any of the Stenhousemuir Carronshore Denny Larbert Grangemouth Bonnybridge Bo’ness content of the newsletter further. Banknock FALKIRK Laurieston Kilsyth Polmont Shieldhill Brightons Linlithgow California Maddiston Cumbernauld Slamannan Avonbridge

Clackmannanshire and Stirling Forth Valley Alcohol And Drugs Falkirk Gender Based Violence Child Protection Committee Partnership Partnership Anne Salter Elaine Brown Gail Cook [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 01786 233851 01786 233542 07746 317640

Falkirk Child Protection Clackmannanshire Violence Forth Valley Mappa Committee Against Women Partnership Audrey Mistry Evelyn Kennedy Gail Cook mappaforthvalley@. [email protected] [email protected] pnn.police.uk 01324 590544 07746 317640 01324 574933

Falkirk Adult Support & Clackmannanshire And Stirling Stirling Gender Based Violence Protection Committee Adult Support & Protection Partnership Alison Cooke Committee Ann Marie Sinclair [email protected] Anne Salter [email protected] [email protected] 01324 504358 01786 233519 01786 233851

1 Falkirk Child Protection Committee Listen to Me approach – Integrated trauma informed first aid and support for parent survivors. This approach is being developed locally to increase support to parent survivors of childhood National Child Protection Improvement trauma and abuse and parents impacted by their child or young Programme – 2016 person’s experience of abuse. On 25th February 2016, former Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long The aim is to develop a trauma 1st Learning, Angela Constance MSP announced a National Child Protection Aid and support framework and Improvement Programme for Scotland in a statement to Parliament. toolkit agreed by statutory and third sector partners that builds This programme consists of a number The focus has been on the following capacity and resource across of priority areas of work: areas: the workforce; aimed at offering • A review of elements of the Child • The role and function of Child parent survivor’s consistent trauma Protection System Protection Committees informed support and services at their chosen point of contact. • A review of practice in the • Child Protection Registers and Children’s Hearing system Case Conferences – what is A partnership proposal to help working well? develop and embed the approach • Scoping a programme of work was recently submitted for around leadership to develop • Significant and Initial Case Survivor Scotland Innovation and capacity Reviews – How and when are Development funding 2016-17 - • A review of the role of inspection these being undertaken? Towards Partnership Working. agencies • Children and families experiences Six month funding was awarded • Improving use of data and of Child Protection processes by Scottish Government for the evidence A programme of neglect period November 2016 – April 2017. Falkirk Health and Social • Action to address the impact of improvement work is also under Care Partnership are leading on neglect on children development. This is being supported by CELCIS and the Centre this alongside the development The programme runs alongside for Child Wellbeing and Protection, of services for adult survivors ongoing work on addressing child Stirling University. The objective is to of trauma within Falkirk. The sexual exploitation, child trafficking identify existing areas of promising Child Protection Committee and and internet safety. practice, whilst also examining ways Voluntary Children’s Services The Scottish Government in which to promote sustainable Forum are key partners in taking established a Systems Review Group improvements in practice – using this exciting initiative forward. which commenced in August 2016 evidence gathered on what works in Plans are underway to develop and is due to report on its findings relation to tackling chronic neglect. a system that enables statutory in December 2016. Catherine Dyer Intensive improvement focussed and third sector partners to share chairs the group which is supported work is expected to take place from information and resources across by the Centre for Excellence for January 2017. services to meet parent survivor Looked after Children in Scotland You can keep abreast of what personal outcomes. The resource (CELCIS), Strathclyde University, who is going on via the Scottish could be training places, materials have produced four background Government’s child protection web or members of staff or volunteers. papers to engage stakeholders pages: Alongside this is a commitment to and help frame discussions. Each offer a seamless service provision paper helpfully provides general www.gov.scot/Topics/People/ that gives the parent survivor background information; details of Young-People/protecting/child- choice and control and a focus on relevant legislation, policy, practice protection early intervention and prevention and the evidence base drawn from bringing benefits to the whole national, UK and international family. research.

2 Forth Valley Child Sexual Exploitation Project Board In December, 2012, Scottish on the University of Bedfordshire data shared with staff. Information Government invited Child Protection monitoring tool modified to reflect from the Data Monitoring Tool was Committees across Scotland to Scottish legislation and practice. collated after a year (from April, 2014 participate in a pilot using tools to March, 2015) and this informed Participation in the Scottish developed by the University of a review of the tool locally after Government pilot led to significant Bedfordshire in England in the consultation with staff which was developments across Forth Valley. area of Child Sexual Exploitation. shared with Scottish Government. There has been discussion of C.S.E. Following discussion with all issues in relevant partnerships The Forth Valley C.S.E. Project Board partners Clackmannanshire and including Child Protection held a Development Day in June, Stirling C.P.C. and Falkirk C.P.C. Committees, MAPPA, Alcohol and 2015, and subsequently developed a responded positively to this Drug Partnerships and the Gender revised Action Plan based on the four invitation in February, 2013, and the Based Violence Partnerships and Improvement Priorities in Scotland’s Forth Valley Child Sexual Exploitation briefings to councillors and elected National Action Plan to Prevent and Project Board was established and members. A C.S.E. Learning and Tackle Child Sexual Exploitation, met for the first time in June, 2013. Development Plan has been 2014, which are prevention/ In August, 2013, a multi-agency established which includes multi- awareness-raising, intervention, seminar led by Isabel Brodie from agency practitioner forums on C.S.E.; disruption/prosecution and recovery. the University of Bedfordshire, took targeted training for staff including place in Stirling and subsequently In August, 2015, a presentation residential staff and foster carers; the Project Board developed an on the Forth Valley Child Sexual participation in the Barnardos Training Action Plan based on the University Exploitation pilot was delivered to for trainers programme with a roll of Bedfordshire Self Assessment the Ministerial Working Group on out of training to all staff on a multi- Tool which included co-ordinating a Child Sexual Exploitation and the agency basis; and C.S.E. as the theme multi-agency approach; recognising National Child Sexual Exploitation for the Forth Valley Child Protection child sexual exploitation; supporting Working Group in Edinburgh and the Committees Annual Conference, young people and their families; work of the pilot in relation to data October, 2014. CSE Guidance and a identifying, investigating, disrupting monitoring has been shared with related Risk Matrix and Vulnerability and prosecuting abusers; and Child Protection Committees across Checklist have been developed and collecting and managing data based Scotland. Keeping Safe: the Views of Children and Young People During 2016 Andrea Priestley, From the findings Children’s Rights Officer, Stirling we were also Council, and Anne Salter, Lead Officer looking to address Child Protection, Clackmannanshire the question: what and Stirling Child Protection does this tell us Committee, met with children and about children and young people in four different school young people’s and community settings to find out understanding of what they feel keeps them safe and child protection issues? some of their worries around this. activities included mapping, large Over fifty children and young people These conversations were semi- group and smaller group discussion. took part and their ages ranged from structured and covered: A written record was taken of the five to eighteen. They came from a discussion and these were later • what kinds of information diverse range of backgrounds and typed up as the main record of the children and young people would included care-experienced young conversations alongside photos of the people, young carers and children like about child protection and mapping activities where appropriate. keeping safe with disabilities. The officers met the children and young people in their The next phase is to get some young • what their worries are in this area settings and at times which suited people to analyse the findings and • how they feel these issues impact the children and young people. The create themes in order to produce on them and on their friends discussions lasted between thirty and a presentation and/or infographic. forty-five minutes for each group. The Once created this will be shared with a • how best they think we can help participation and contributions by number of different audiences and be them to stay safe and the children and young people was available on the council website. The • how best to share information voluntary. To generate discussion information will also inform the work with them about these issues. different activities were used with the of the Child Protection Committee children and young people. These going forward. 3 Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Gender-Based Violence Partnerships Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Gender-Based Violence Partnerships

Equally Safe is Scotland’s strategy to combat all forms of violence and abusive behaviour against woman and girls. While recognising that men and people in same sex relationships can also be victims, activities within the strategy predominantly focus on male violence against women as women are the victims in the vast majority of cases precisely because of their gender and deep-routed and systemic gender inequalities in society. Gender-based violence encompasses the following crimes and abusive behaviours against women and girls: domestic abuse; stalking and harassment; rape and sexual assault; commercial sexual exploitation (including prostitution, pornography, lap and pole- dancing); harmful traditional practices (including forced marriage, ‘honour’ based violence, and female genital mutilation); human trafficking: and child abuse. Equally Safe was published in 2014 and updated in 2016. It is a strategic framework to help organisations and partners, both individually and within Community Planning Partnerships, to align their work towards the vision of a strong and flourishing Scotland where all individuals are equally safe, and where women and girls live free from all forms of violence and abuse, and the attitudes that perpetuate it. The strategy sets out a shared understanding of the causes, risk factors and scale of the problem, and targets four priority areas which are further broken down into corresponding objectives. This work is supported by the following 4 workstream groups, drawn from a wide range of experienced partners and informed by those who have experienced the abuse: Primary prevention, under which existing evidence on what works is explored; additional ways of addressing the systematic inequality and attitudes that give rise to violence and abuse are identified and related costs and benefits are scoped. Primary prevention is explored in the widest context (society, community and individual). Capability and Capacity, under which there is work to ensure that statutory services are increasingly competent in identifying and responding effectively to violence, as well as work to improve the capacity and capability that exists across all services. Justice, under which a coordinated approach within the civil and criminal justice systems will be developed. This will include considering the law relating to sexual offences and domestic abuse, the

4 Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Gender-Based Violence Partnerships Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Gender-Based Violence Partnerships

support available to victims and their experiences when The framework will form the basis of performance going through the system; the availability of statistics to reporting for partnerships and be piloted in various GBV build evidence bases, particularly in civil cases; training partnerships next year. for justice system professionals; multi-agency working Successfully achieving the vision and aims of Equally and opportunities for learning and sharing good practice; Safe relies on a year-round commitment from GBV and the impact of justice interventions in changing partnerships, although there are a number of annual perpetrator behaviour and wider public attitudes. events that provide fresh stimulus to initiatives and raise Accountability, under which a Performance Framework awareness in the partnership and public conscious of the with appropriate outcomes and indicators will be compelling issues faced by women and girls. developed. The 16 Days of Action is prominent amongst these events The above workstreams have submitted draft workplans, and is an annual international campaign that calls for which the Scottish Government has used to develop the elimination of all forms of violence against women. a draft Delivery Plan for Equally Safe for 2017-2021. It runs from 25 November (UN International Day of Following consultation with key stakeholders and Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December consideration by the Equally Safe Joint Strategic Board, (International Human Rights Day) and includes World the draft plan will be consulted on more widely to ensure Aids Day on 1 December. Locally, the 2016 campaign it is comprehensive and inclusive. opens with a high-profile conference at Forth Valley College Stirling Campus on 25 November and continues Local Gender Based Violence partnerships are the delivery with a packed programme of training, awareness raising vehicle for Equally Safe and exist in all 3 Council areas. and social media campaigning events across all 3 GBV They comprise of the statutory, non-statutory and third partnerships in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire sector organisations that are key to combating violence Council areas. Full details of the 16 Days of Action against women and girls, including: local authorities; campaign and initiatives can be obtained via the ; NHS Forth Valley; the justice sector; previously detailed Stirling or Clackmannanshire/ Falkirk Women’s Aid; Shakti Women’s Aid; Rape Crisis; Forth GBV Partnerships Coordinators. Valley Colleges: Stirling University; Scottish Prison Service; Scottish Fire and Rescue, Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships, CSREC and various others. Ann Marie Sinclair (sinclairam@stirling,gov.uk) is the partnership coordinator for the Stirling GBV Partnership and Gail Cook ([email protected]) is the coordinator for both the Clackmannanshire Violence against Women (VAW) Partnership and the Falkirk GBV Partnerships. In August, 2016, Scottish Government and COSLA produced partnership guidance for VAW partnerships. This provides a framework, set of minimum standards and examples of core activities on which partnerships will base their operations and partners will understand their individual contributions. Additionally, as previously highlighted, the Equally Safe Accountability workstream has produced a Draft Performance Framework to enable partnerships and Scottish Government to measure their performance and progress, as well as to support strategic investment planning to ensure that women and girls throughout Scotland benefit from consistently high-quality services.

5 MAPPA Matters

Annual Report 2015-16 in the community across Forth Over the last two years we have Valley. It is anticipated that the been capturing data on offenders Forth Valley MAPPA (Multi Agency annual figures for Category 3 who come to the end of their time Public Protection Arrangements) offenders will be similar to that of in MAPPA. We examine their risk and is one of 10 MAPPA areas across restricted patients. personal profile when they started Scotland. Each of the 10 areas in MAPPA and how that compares to The other national change which publishes an annual report at the when they finished. is taking shape is the emergence end of October. of Community Justice Partnerships The reports set out how well- Our report this year had a dual focus at local authority level, with key founded risks were, whether there on change and on impact. partners from local authorities, was matching risk management 2015-16 saw major changes in police, prisons, fire service, the action, and if this resulted in reduced MAPPA. The introduction of “Other third sector and health. These risks over time. We also looked Risk of Serious Harm” offenders partnerships will replace the Fife at risk-relevant factors such as means that MAPPA is no longer and Forth Valley Community Justice employment and accommodation, only concerned with Registered Sex Authority in March 2017, and this and whether offenders with Offenders and Restricted Patients, is the shadow year to enable that underlying mental health or learning but also with this complex third transition to take place. disability issues were provided with the support they needed to category of dangerous offenders. Regarding the Impact of MAPPA, we maximise the effectiveness of the have been committed to supporting The numbers of such offenders risk management arrangements. across Scotland is projected to be both good public protection small, because the ‘serious ongoing outcomes but also good outcomes Please take the chance to read the risk’ threshold can only be met if for offenders. It is only by reducing report and see what we’ve been the offender has multi-faceted risks risks and building protective factors doing in MAPPA to contribute to which require high-intensity multi- in an offenders life, that we can public protection in Forth Valley. be confident that all reasonable agency intervention, and they have The report can be found on the Fife steps have been taken to avoid to be subject to statutory social and Forth Valley Community Justice reoffending. work supervision. Authority web-site: We believe our Offender Journey As of 31st March 2016 we were www.ffvcja.co.uk/component/ reports provide the evidence of managing 206 registered sex option,com_docman/Itemid,7/ positive impact on both. offenders and 8 restricted patients, gid,592/task,doc_download/ 6 MAPPA Matters Sexual Offences Trends

Trends in sexual offences The number of people convicted of sexual offences (excluding offences related to prostitution) have nearly doubled in the last four years, up from 511 in 2010-11 to 1,000 in 2014-15. The most marked increase has been for that of rape where the number of people convicted has more than tripled from 36 to 125 over the same period. It should also be noted that within the “other sexual crimes total” there have been increases in convictions for crimes such as “Taking, distribution, possession of indecent photos of children”, which have nearly tripled in the same time period from 107 people in 2010-11 to 291 in 2014-15.

Patterns in sentencing Implications for MAPPA The chart below shows the main The significant increases in ‘contact’ sexual offences outlined above are disposal types for sexual offences unlikely to continue rising at the same rate, as we reach a post Saville peak in (excluding offences for prostitution). the reporting of historic offences committed years or decades previously. Community sentences have more Scottish Government is looking very closely at the rising number of than doubled since 2010-11 (from internet offenders and whether the current range of policing, judicial and 221 in 2010-11 to 537 in 2014-15). intervention responses represent an effective means of tackling this very The vast majority of community complicated criminal and cultural phenomenon. sentences were given for “other sexual offences” and the rise has been driven, in part, by the increase in offences for “Taking, distribution, possession etc of indecent photos of children”. MAPPA Winter Programme of Seminars and Custodial sentences have also risen, Workshops January-March 2017 nearly doubling from 197 in 2010- 11 to 360 in 2014-15. These types The MAPPA Development Subgroup is pleased to launch the new of sentences are more evenly split programme for Friday afternoon seminars. between rape, sexual assault and The programme content has been determined by the results of a staff other sexual offences. Financial survey of practitioners across a range of agencies and looks like this: penalties and “other” sentences such as admonishments have remained at January 2017 Attachment Disorder and MAPPA Offenders fairly low levels averaging at around 65 and 35 respectively. February 2017 Risk Formulation and Case Management Interventions for Internet Offenders January 2017 Attachment Disorder and MAPPA Offenders February 2017 Risk Formulation and Case Management Interventions for Internet Offenders March 2017 Relationships of Concern Between MAPPA Offenders and Vulnerable Adults: Case Review Findings and Improvement Action Planning

For further details, please contact: [email protected]

7 Forth Valley Alcohol and Drugs Partnership

Local news - Forth Valley Recovery Community

Over the last eighteen months, the Below are some recent quotes from people who attend the cafes: Forth Valley Recovery Community (FVRC) has continued to grow and develop. The overall aim of FVRC is “It’s great to chat with people who are to increase service user engagement in the same situation. I’ve also found out and empowerment and support about courses and places to get help.” routes into recovery from problematic alcohol and / or drug misuse. A range of substance misuse “I’ve never looked back. I got introduced to services are available across Forth Valley and FVRC has developed a (worker), and I thought, I want what that guy’s got range of complimentary initiatives and I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. including peer support and recovery This has changed my life.” volunteering. Recovery Cafes “It’s the people, everybody has been Four Recovery Cafes now operate in a deep, dark place. The support is across Forth Valley. The weekly unbelievable, life changing.” cafes are run by recovery volunteers with the support of two Recovery Development workers. The recovery “I go to all the groups. At first it’s quite volunteers are people with lived experience who have had a daunting, but you’re always made to feel minimum of 6 months stability free welcome, and if you keep coming, you from substance misuse. The first eventually find it easier.” café opened in February 2016 and by August, the 1000th visitor was welcomed through the door. All cafes are well attended each week. For information on the ….or contact Recovery Recovery Cafes and other Development Workers, Jardine

All staff are encouraged to promote Recovery  Currently Recruiting!! Simpson [email protected] or  Halloween Party!! UPDATED OCTOBER

2016  Donate your old stuff!! We welcomed our 1000th visitor  Info on page 2!! to our recovery café’s during the the cafes where appropriate and activities Forth Valley Recovery Community will welcome anyone who has been affected bymonth substance of August!! misuse. Sean McCann [email protected] Forth Valley Recovery Signpost Recovery —Units 1+2, Block 7, Community Cafes! Cooperage Business Village, Cooperage (SFAD) —DROP Way, Alloa, FK10 3LP. IN GROUPS Monday Alloa Recovery Café , The Helpline: 08080101011 Gate, 2 Ludgate Church. 4pm Wednesdays — 3pm- click here.... -9pm. 4.30pm. www.sfad.org.uk are welcome to bring service users Tea/coffee/recovery volunteers/arts Pop Up Recovery Cafe, Tryst Communi- and crafts/SMART Recovery/Peer ty Centre, Stenhousemuir, 6pm – 8pm Thursday Group

Support (Fortnightly) Raploch Community Cam- Thursdays —4.30-6pm pus, Stirling For information Wednesday Pop Up Recovery ASC Stirling , 90 Drip Road, Raploch. 2pm- 3.30pm Friday Group Tryst Community Centre, Park Drive, Fridays 3pm- (Fortnightly) The Hub, Whins Road, Stenhousemuir. Pool/Circuit Training/ 4.30pm Alloa

Health Checks/SMART Recovery/Tea/ Ochil Recovery Café along to any of the cafes. There is , Ochil Communi- Coffee. ty Centre, Raploch Stirling. 12pm-2pm - Every Tuesday, www.facebook.com/Popuprecovery Saturdays 1.30 Stirling Substance Misuse Service, -3pm on substance

Stirling Community Hospital

Falkirk Recovery Café, Friday Stirling Recovery Café ASC 32 Vicar Ochil Community Centre, Raploch, Stir-, St. FK1 1JB 10am-12pm – Every Monday ling. 1pm-6pm Recovery Support Meeting Grangemouth Education Unit, Abbotts Food/tea/coffee/live music,/learn to Road, Grangemouth at least one café operating in each

play an instrument,/SMART Recovery/ Monday at ASC Stirling 92 Drip 5pm - Recovery Volunteers/Peer Support Road, 10:30-12:30 and Friday 7pm – Every Wednesday misuse support

at ASC Falkirk, 10:30 CVS Building, Unit 6, Callendar Busi- Saturday Falkirk Recovery Café. - Come relax, have a chat 12:30.and a ness Park, Callendar Road, Falkirk

ASC Falkirk, 32 Vicar Street Falkirk. cuppa! Recovery Films/N.A. Meeting/coffee/ ______Narcotics Anonymous tea/soup,/SMART Recovery, live music Council area across Forth Valley. and entertainment, alternative thera- Parkrun— Helpline 0300 999 1212 5km Run in Cal- pies Reiki and Acudetox. services www.ukna.org lander park every Saturday

Alcoholics Anonymous leaving at 9.30am. Free to Monday 7.30pm - Stirling Methodist register online, contact Sean Helpline 0800 9177 650 Church Halls, Queen Street, FK8 1HL

www.alcoholics for details or go online to -anonymous.org.uk Wednesday 7.30pm – Stirling Method- http://www.parkrun.org.uk/ SMART Recovery Meetings ist Church Halls, Queen Street, FK8 www.smartrecovery.org.uk 1HL falkirk/ available across

Monday 6.30pm- Friday 2-3 pm 8pm – Salvation Army, Recovery Ramblers Walk- Raploch, Stirling

The Gate, 2 Ludgate, Alloa, FK10 1DS ing Group Stirling Saturday 1.30pm- 3pm Tuesdays 4.30pm Meeting every Monday at —6pm Falkirk Recovery Café, ASC Falkirk, 32 Vicar Street 12.30pm. ASC Stirling, 90 Drip ASC Falkirk—32 Vicar Street, Falkirk, Forth Valley FK1 iJB Road, Raploch. SCOTTISH FAMILIES Wednesdays AFFECT- – 1pm The walks are suitable for all -3.30pm ED BY ALCOHOL Forth Valley & DRUGS ages and abilities! Alcohol & Drug Partnership click here.... Treatment & Recovery Service Directory 2016/2017 www.forthvalleyadp.org.uk

8 Forth Valley Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Revised Alcohol Guidelines

National Recovery Walk Forth Valley recently hosted the National Recovery Walk Scotland, led by the Scottish Recovery Consortium. This is an annual event New guidelines on alcohol which brings together recommend that both men and addiction recovery women avoid consuming more communities, individuals, than 14 units of alcohol per week. families, friends and supporters 14 units is equivalent to a 1 ½ to celebrate recovery in Scotland. Recovery walks also took place in bottles of wine or 5 pints of lager This year over 2000 people walked 9 prisons throughout Scotland, (5% abv) over the course of a from the Kelpies to Callendar Park, themed, “Recovery from Within”. week. where there was a Recovery village Over 400 prisoners and staff and festival. There was a strong took part with 7 prisons being For more information, go to: message of hope and recovery represented at the Recovery Walk www.nhs.uk/news/2016/ evident throughout the whole in Falkirk. 01January/Pages/New-alcohol- event with people travelling from advice-issued.aspx as far as Orkney. For more information, go to www.scottishrecoveryconsortium.org/ Increase in Drug-Related-Deaths Recent national figures show that in total, 706 To access FV drug-related deaths were registered in Scotland Alcohol & Drug in 2015. This was the largest figure ever recorded Partnership’s and was an increase of 15%. As with previous leaflet on Downer Downer Deaths (Blues, Vallies, Scoobies, Benzos, Diazepam years, males are more likely to die from a drug Deaths click Whatever you call them, we have a problem! ) related death (69%) with most people dying here.... Don’t be down and out. Mixing downers increases the risk! being aged between 35 – 44 (35%).

Forth Valley also had an increase in drug related Downers slow the breathing and heart rate and can cause unconsciousness, brain damage, coma and deaths during 2015 with 31 people dying. death.

One of the measures used to prevent drug Mixing downers is the most common cause of drug- related deaths in Forth Valley and Scotland as a related deaths is a medication called Naloxone, whole. which can be used in an emergency situation to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Forth Valley has an ongoing Naloxone Programme which can be accessed by staff and service users. Please circulate this leaflet as widely as possible.

9 Adult Support and Protection in Forth Valley

Adult Support and Protection in Forth Valley

Over the last two years progress has aspects of Health and Social Care The Adult Protection Committee been made against a programme integration, and to bring a sharper is a multi-agency partnership of development set out in the focus on local developments. While responsible for the design, previous Forth Valley Business there are now two committees development and delivery of Plan. During this period the Adult overseeing Adult Protection within services to protect adults from Protection Committee(APC) has Forth Valley, both committees share abuse or harm. The Committee is sought to strengthen the joint a commitment to work closely and represented by senior managers approach to assessment and collaboratively thereby ensuring a from Health, Police, Local Authority planning for adults and take consistent approach to protecting and Voluntary and Independent forward the implementation of adults across the Forth Valley. Sectors. The Committee operates evidenced based approaches. This within the context of a Constitution In the coming two years the APC will included a review of the Initial and Governance Framework and focus on improving links with other Referral Discussion Arrangements works to core functions of reviewing partnerships to secure coherence (IRD), the introduction of guidance and updating procedures, improving in the delivery of overlapping for staff working with large scale practice, providing information services within the arena of public investigations, the review of policies and advice, improving cooperation protection. To this end it is intended and procedures and the delivery within Committee, with other APCs to forge closer links across Child of good quality training to support and other strategic planning groups. Protection, MAPPA Strategic continuous improvement. The Oversight Group, Violence Against A number of key factors have APC has focussed on supporting Women and Drugs and Alcohol influenced the work of the Adult practitioners by delivering training Partnership. Protection Committee over the on the legislative framework last two years. Emphasis has governing practice, by raising The protection of adults at risk been placed on strengthening awareness of adult protection continues to be a priority for all collaborative working to ensure across services including homecare, services and agencies in Falkirk adherence to the principles of accident and emergency staff as and the wider Forth Valley. Despite prevention and early intervention. well as independent and voluntary the significant challenges posed The Committee recognises that services. In early 2016 the Falkirk by financial constraints aligned to adults are better protected when Adult Protection Committee and a rising demand for services, there systems are in place to ensure the the Stirling and Clackmannan is a confidence that new ways of identification and response to risk Adult Protection Committee were working together can be found that at the earliest opportunity. To this established following a decision to secures continuous improvement end the committee has sought to move away from a wider Forth Valley in the delivery of Adult Protection improve the quality and timing of approach, in keeping with some services. joint assessments; ensuring they

10 Adult Support and Protection in Forth Valley

are appropriate and proportionate. in relation to protecting adults at home care providers within the The Committee has reviewed and risk of harm. area. A full range of Adult Support updated policies and procedures, and Protection Training has been Within the local area good progress improved training arrangements delivered to a wide range of has been made in designing and refocused its work. A recent staff including Council Officers, and delivering a comprehensive inspection of Older People Services Social Workers, Police, Homecare, programme of training in respect identified a number of areas that Accident and Emergency Staff, of Adult Protection. A Learning required further development and Fire and Rescue, Mental Health and Development Sub Group the improvement programme for Officers, Childcare Social Workers, has successfully engaged with the APC has clear links to the action Justice Staff and Independent staff, identified training needs plan developed in response to this as well as Voluntary and Private and coordinated a programme inspection report. Provider Organisations. A range of training that supports staff of methods and approaches have The Committee has adopted development. been adopted including the use of an emphasis on continuous The group has adopted a e learning, directly delivered training improvement and is in the process collaborative approach through and the use of external specialist of further developing quality the efficient use of materials and consultants. The local programme assurance systems to ensure resources across the Forth Valley of training is responsive and accurate evaluation of the quality of area. Over the last two years imaginative and has evaluated well local services and take any remedial training has evaluated well and by those attending. action where necessary. The APC any required adjustments and recognises the importance of Training and staff development improvements have been made to collaborative working in addressing continues to be an area of high reflect staff feedback. In addition those overlapping issues that impact priority for the Adult Protection materials developed locally have on the safeguarding of adults Committee and continues to receive been shared nationally with other including tackling substance misuse, a high degree of attention. There APCs and Local Authorities. domestic violence and mental remains close links across the Forth health and it is understood that Currently the training programme Valley area and some aspects of intervening at an early stage avoids has successfully delivered a training continue to be delivered the escalation of crisis. diverse range of training ranging on that basis. Consequently jointly from bespoke training to Fire and run learning and development The delivery of effective training and Rescue Services; the Office of the opportunities continue to be staff development is the cornerstone Public Guardian; NHS Forth Valley available to all partners across Forth in ensuring that staff are familiar unscheduled care and A&E staff; Valley. with their roles and responsibilities and also to two large nursing

Adapted from information within the APC Biennial report 2014-16 11