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Vulnerable adults in police custody: the role of local authorities in the provision of Appropriate Adults (AA)
- Authors:
- UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL. School for Policy Studies, JESSIMAN Tricia, CAMERON Ailsa
- Publisher:
- NIHR School for Social Care Research
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 6
- Place of publication:
- London
This research, undertaken by the University of Bristol’s School for Policy Studies, explores the role of local authorities in the provision of appropriate adult (AA) services to safeguard the rights and welfare of vulnerable people in custody and highlight good practice. It also sought to examine what commissioners, practitioners and service users would expect from an effective service. It was based on responses to an online survey sent to 151 local authority adult social care departments in England (29 responses) and 54 services within the National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN) (23 response). It also examined four different models of provision and qualitative interviews and service user focus groups. Of the 29 local authorities who responded, 14 funded or part-funded AA services, which were mostly commissioned from third-sector partners. Key reasons for funding included: fulfilling part of their wider adult safeguarding responsibilities; concerns about demands on social workers’ and mental health professionals’ time; an increase in demand for AAs; and to foster good working relationships with other agencies. It found that local authority areas where AA services were embedded in, or linked to, adult safeguarding teams were more likely to respond promptly. In relation to AA service effectiveness - managers, commissioners and the police, tended to prioritise AA response time and availability, whilst service users said that an understanding of needs were more important factors. The research highlights two key areas for improvement: the need for commissioners and funders to look at monitoring wider outcomes of service effectiveness the need to improve service user involvement in commissioning and monitoring of services. (Edited publisher abstract)