electronic interagency referral discussions (e-irds) engagement with the police the west lothian...
TRANSCRIPT
Electronic Interagency Referral Discussions (E-IRDs)
Engagement with the Police The West Lothian Approach to
Electronic Adult Protection
David Robertson, Senior Responsible Officer - Information Sharing, West Lothian Community Health and Care Partnership
Nick Clater, Group Manager – Protection & Emergency Services, West Lothian Council
IT in support of information sharing between Health and Social Care
24th April 2013 at the National Museums of Scotland
The Act sets out statutory duties of co-operation for certain public bodies and their office-holders:
CouncilsNHS boardsPoliceCare Commission
Mental Welfare Commission; andthe Public Guardian.
These public bodies and their staff must:
Report the facts and circumstances to the local Council when they know or believe that someone is an adult at risk and that action is needed to protect that adult from harm;
and Cooperate with the Council and each other to enable or assist the council making inquiries.
Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 - Duty to
cooperate
Various laws protect information. The rights to privacy and seeking consent should always be considered, but various laws also allow information sharing without consent:
The Human Rights Act 1998The Common Law Duty of ConfidentialityThe Data Protection Act 1998
These existing laws allow information to be disclosed without consent:
where such disclosure is required by law (either a court order
or statute); where such disclosure is for crime prevention,
detection and prosecution;where such disclosure is in the public interest
(including the best interests of adults, who are or may be being
harmed).
The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 supports information sharing without consent when it is necessary to protect adults at risk.
Information Sharing: the Law
E-IRD stands for Electronic Inter-Agency (or Initial) Referral Discussion
The E-IRD records the discussion between agencies to share and consider all relevant information about an adult at risk of harm.
Those undertaking the discussion make decisions and plan responses on the basis of that shared information.
Definition of E-IRDs
To plan the investigation and establish agency involvement;
To agree any immediate protective measures;
To identify and share information;
To establish whether a crime may have been committed;
To establish whether an AP investigation is required;
To establish whether an Adult Protection Case Conference
(or Professional Concerns Meeting) is required;
To establish what type of Adult Protection investigation is
required.
Purpose of E-IRDs
Limited number of staff need to be trained;
Any of the three agencies can initiate an IRD;
Initiating agency responsible for the completion of the E-IRD
form;
Initiating agency telephones other agencies and shares
information;
Initiating agency will record information on E-IRD form;
Other agencies check E-IRD form for accuracy before
closure;
E-IRD form should be completed within 24 hours of IRD
initiation.
Process, Recording & Timescales of E-IRDs
C-me and eCare are established shared information systems in West Lothian designed to provide whole person view
Adult version draws from host systems in Social Work, Health and Housing
Provides SSA/ Assessment workflow /Shared warning triggers/ secure messaging and E-IRD’s
Children’s version draws from host systems in Social Work, Education and Health with secure controlled access to Police and Third Sector
Provides Integrated assessment Framework/Chronology/Shared warning triggers/secure messaging
Host systems remain intact, minimising re-keying
Information sharing systems
Social Services SWIFT
Education Services SEEMIS
NHS TRAK
GP’s GPASS
New in 2013 Cross Agency CP Link with Lanarkshire
Information Sharing (eCare & C-me)
Council General Enquiry Tracking System
Linked IT Systems
Justine BellJustine BellJustin Bell
SWIFT EMS CIS
Justine
Bell
14 Jun 1999F
Add IRD
Home Page - Searching
CPR!
NameJustine BellJustine BellJustin Bell
NameJustine BellJustine BellJustin Bell
CPR!
SWIFT EMS CIS
Bell
Justine
14 Jun 1999F
Add IRD
Home Page - Adding an IRD to a client
Introducing assistive technology on its own without wider system improvements is a wasted opportunity
Assistive technology is not a cut-price alternative to personal service but helps stretch the human element further
An approach driven by technology won’t work
High level of commitment particularly at senior and Partnership levels is required
Careful approach and investment of time with all stakeholders – especially staff, users, carers and clients is required
Performed correctly, information sharing is of great benefit to not only the Partnership bodies but also the community
What have we learned so far?
Number of IRDs recorded prior to March 2010
(implementation): 3-4 per month.
Number of IRDs recorded after March 2010: 12 per month.
Greater staff compliance.
Multi-agency responsibility.
Audit trail – reliable, focussed recording mechanism.
Provides significant intelligence - type of harm being
perpetrated, by whom, and to whom.
Reduces need for meetings – efficiency.
Improves quality and traceability of shared information
(PRSA)
Outcomes & Benefits of E-IRDs
Working with national and regional groups:
DTSB, Best Practice Forum, South East Scotland GIRFEC
Group, DSP, Lanarkshire Partnership
Developing systems to support Children and Young People
Legislation
Single Child’s Plan, Chronology, GIRFEC, Named Person
Share child protection information across Partnership
Boundaries with Lanarkshire
Collaborate with eHealth on including portal technology
across Lothian
Continue to develop information sharing services in West
Lothian, Lothian and across Scotland
What are we going to do now?