A new inspection report has found that organisations in East Dunbartonshire are working effectively to safeguard vulnerable adults in the area.
The Joint Inspection of Adult Support and Protection Services in East Dunbartonshire report, published today (Tuesday 12 March), concluded that there were clear strengths in supporting positive experiences and outcomes for adults at risk of harm, which outweighed the areas for improvement.
The Care Inspectorate, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, and Healthcare Improvement Scotland joined forces to conduct a comprehensive joint inspection of Adult Support and Protection arrangements in East Dunbartonshire.
The inspection, which began on 16 October 2023, aimed to independently scrutinise, and provide assurance on how the partnership in East Dunbartonshire works, to ensure the safety and protection of adults at risk of harm.
Focusing on two principal areas - key adult support and protection processes, and leadership for adult support and protection – the investigation included a staff survey, file reading, sampling of Social Work, NHS, and Police Scotland records, and focus groups with staff across the partnership and third sector.
The report, which you can find on the Care Inspectorate’s website, contains an overview of the methodology used to carry out the review, as well as detailed evaluation of each theme.
Welcoming the report, Caroline Sinclair, Chief Officer, East Dunbartonshire Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP), said, “This report clearly shows that our partnership is working effectively to safeguard adults at risk of harm. I am pleased that the inspectors found that our Adult Support and Protection processes have had a positive impact on local people’s lives, which is testament to the commitment of staff in dealing with what can be very challenging issues.
“The report highlighted notable strengths in our work including the comprehensive and collaborative nature of Adult Support and Protection inquiries, the quality of completed chronologies, and the competency of investigations.
“I was also pleased that the review singled out the outstanding staff survey response, which they recognised as one of the strongest nationally. This, along with the findings that our strategic leaders successfully communicate a joint vision which was well understood by staff at all levels, showcases the collaborative and shared ownership everyone within the partnership feels when it comes to Adult Support and Protection.”
The inspection report outlined three key areas which will form an Action/Improvement Plan for the partnership to implement. The partnership will now develop this plan which needs to be submitted to the Care Inspectorate by 24 April 2024.
Caroline Sinclair added, “We acknowledge the priority areas for improvement identified in the report and we will now be working, as a partnership, to implement these via our Action Plan. The report highlighted our progress in implementing improvement actions from our last inspection in 2017, so we will be focused on continuing this good work.
“Along with our partners, we remain committed to continuous improvement, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of adults at risk of harm through collaborative support and protection measures.”