Appropriate Adult provision for vulnerable adults
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of Adult Social Care in the provision of Appropriate Adults for vulnerable adults in police custody
IRAS ID
187448
Contact name
Tricia Jessiman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
When a vulnerable adult is in police custody, the law states that they should have someone with them to help them understand what is happening, and ensure their rights and welfare. This person is independent of the police, and is called an Appropriate Adult (AA). People who need this help include those who have mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Several recent Government-commissioned reports have criticised the treatment of vulnerable adults in custody. They are often not provided with an AA. This may be because the police do not always know when an adult in custody is vulnerable. It may also be because it is difficult to find an AA.
There is no reliable data to tell us how Adult Social Care services are involved in the provision of AAs in England. We do know that it varies across local authority areas. In some, they commission and fund another organisation to provide an AA service. In other areas AA come directly from Adult Social Care services. It is likely that in some areas, there is no service.
The aim of this study is to understand the role Adult Social Care services can play in improving AA provision. Firstly, we will ask directors of Adult Social Care services to tell us what they do. We will also ask managers of AA services to tell us how they work with Adult Social Care in their area.
This will allow us to map Adult Social Care involvement in the provision of AAs. It will also mean we can identify good practice in four areas, and interview those involved with the service. We will find out how good services are commissioned, funded and managed.
We will also ask vulnerable adults with experience of custody what they would like from an Appropriate Adult.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
15/IEC08/0048
Date of REC Opinion
12 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion