A REVIEW OF THE ADULT SAFEGUARDING FRAMEWORK IN NORTHERN IRELAND, THE UK, IRELAND AND INTERNATIONALLY Commissioned by the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland 30th January, 2014 Review Team Dr Janet Carter Anand, Principal Investigator, Queen’s University Belfast Professor Brian Taylor, University of Ulster Ms Lorna Montgomery, Queen’s University Belfast Dr Onder Bakircioglu, Queen’s University Belfast Dr Colin Harper, Research Assistant. Queen’s university Belfast Dr John Devaney, Queen’s University Belfast Dr Anne Lazenbatt, Queen’s University Belfast Professor Katherine Pearson, Research Consultant, Penn State University, USA Ms Kathryn Mackay, Research Consultant, University of Stirling, Scotland Denis Nejbir, Research Student, Queen’s University Belfast 1 Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Table of legislation ...................................................................................................................................... 8 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 9 1.2. Methodology of the Review ................................................................................................................ 9 2. Northern Ireland ................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Context of adult protection in Northern Ireland ............................................................................... 10 2.1.1 Framework of adult protection in Northern Ireland .................................................................. 10 2.1.2 Definition of ‘vulnerable adult’ in Northern Ireland ................................................................. 12 2.1.3 Key stakeholders ........................................................................................................................ 13 2.1.4 Northern Ireland Legislation related to the protection of older people from abuse .................. 14 2.1.5 Prevalence of abuse in Northern Ireland ................................................................................... 19 2.1.6 Current Developments Northern Ireland ................................................................................... 23 2.2 Issues for consideration .................................................................................................................... 24 2.2.1 Defining the term ‘Vulnerable Adult’ and Defining Abuse ........................................................ 24 2.2.2 Determining Thresholds ............................................................................................................. 24 2.2.3 Financial Abuse ......................................................................................................................... 24 2.2.4 Prosecution ................................................................................................................................ 25 2.2.5 Confusion as to Information and Rights .................................................................................... 25 2.2.6 Powers and Duties ..................................................................................................................... 25 2.3 Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 25 3. Other UK and International Jurisdictions Relevant to Northern Ireland ...................................... 26 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 26 3.2 Defining the Terms ‘Vulnerable Adult’, ‘Abuse’ and ‘Neglect’........................................................ 26 3.2.1 England ...................................................................................................................................... 26 3.2.2 Wales .......................................................................................................................................... 27 3.2.3 Scotland ...................................................................................................................................... 28 3.2.4 Republic of Ireland .................................................................................................................... 29 3.2.5 Australia ..................................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.6 United States .............................................................................................................................. 30 2 3.3 Determining Thresholds and Appropriateness of Response ............................................................. 31 3.3.1 England ...................................................................................................................................... 31 3.3.2 Scotland ...................................................................................................................................... 31 3.3.3 Wales .......................................................................................................................................... 32 3.3.4 Republic of Ireland .................................................................................................................... 33 3.3.5 Australia ..................................................................................................................................... 33 3.3.6 United States .............................................................................................................................. 36 3.4 Financial Abuse ................................................................................................................................ 36 3.4.1 England ...................................................................................................................................... 36 3.4.2 Scotland ...................................................................................................................................... 37 3.4.3 Wales .......................................................................................................................................... 37 3.4.4 Australia ..................................................................................................................................... 38 3.4.5 United States .............................................................................................................................. 40 3.5 Prosecution ....................................................................................................................................... 41 3.5.1 England ...................................................................................................................................... 41 3.5.2 Scotland ...................................................................................................................................... 41 3.5.3 Wales .......................................................................................................................................... 41 3.5.4 Australia ..................................................................................................................................... 42 3.5.5 Republic of Ireland .................................................................................................................... 42 3.5.6 United States .............................................................................................................................. 42 3.6 Information and Rights ..................................................................................................................... 43 3.6.1 USA ............................................................................................................................................ 43 3.6.2 Australia ..................................................................................................................................... 44 3.7 Powers and Duties ............................................................................................................................ 45 3.7.1 England ...................................................................................................................................... 45 3.7.2 Scotland ...................................................................................................................................... 45 3.7.3 Wales .......................................................................................................................................... 47 3.7.4 Republic of Ireland .................................................................................................................... 48 3.7.5 Australia ..................................................................................................................................... 48 3.7.6 United States .............................................................................................................................. 49 4.