Elected Member Briefing - Perth and Kinross response to the national Adult Support & Protection Day awareness raising campaign

About this Briefing Note

Report by: Iain Wilkie, Adult Support & Protection Coordinator, Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership

EMBN Number: 014-24

Date: 15th February 2024

Subject: Perth and Kinross response to the annual National Adult Support & Protection Day awareness raising campaign

Responsible Officer: Iain Wilkie, Adult Support & Protection Coordinator, Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership

Details

Purpose

20 February each year marks the start of an annual Scottish Government campaign to raise awareness about adult support and adult protection. This briefing gives Elected Members an overview of the programme of events about how this national campaign will be shared in Perth and Kinross. 

Briefing Information

The Perth & Kinross Adult Support & Protection (ASP) Annual Report 2022/23 has been tabled at the Integrated Joint Board on 14 February 2024 and will also be considered at full Council on 20 March 2024. This report presents an overview of the of multi-agency arrangements to protect adults at risk of harm.  

This year's Scottish Government ASP campaign focusses on raising awareness in the importance of recognising when an adult might be at risk of harm and how to report this, including where neglect and self-neglect exists. The Scottish Government campaign will also focus on a growth in reports of adults subject to 'sextortion'. 'Sextortion' is a form of blackmail. It involves threatening to publish sexual information, photos or videos about someone. This may be to extort money or to force the victim to do something against their will. Photos or recordings are often made without the victim realising or consenting. Therefore, our own programme of events will reflect this.  

The following sets out the Perth and Kinross programme of events supporting this national campaign:   

1. On 20 February 2024, the Perth & Kinross ASP Coordinator is co-hosting a multi-agency, Tayside-wide, in person event on supporting those who experience self-neglect and hoarding.   
2. On 20 February 2024 (if repairs to the lights are made in time), the lights on Smeaton's Bridge will be blue and white to reflect the Adult Protection Committee (APC) logo colours. Social media will be used to highlight this and to use this to share the message about protecting adults with links to how to report concerns where an adult might be at risk of harm.  
3. A press statement has been prepared about the importance of recognising and reporting harm, with comments from Bill Atkinson, Independent Chair of the APC and from Kenny Ogilvy, Interim Head of Service, Adult Social Work and Social Care. 
4. Between 19 February and 23 February 2024, different adult protection and adult safeguarding messages will be shared on Perth and Kinross Council's  social media platforms. The following video clip (Seen something? Say something: help keep people safe from neglect on Vimeo) will also be used throughout the week to raise awareness of the need to report concerns, who to report these to and to direct viewers to the dedicated Perth & Kinross Council Adult Support & Protection Website where viewers can find more information about the role of Adult Support & Protection  in safeguarding the welfare and interest of those who might not be able to do so themselves. 
5. Our social media will also share Police Scotland's own social media messages about sextortion, citing and sharing the following webpage for further information about how to recognise where sextortion may exists and how to report it: https://www.scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/internet-safety/sextortion/ 
6. On 21 and 23 February 2024, the Perth & Kinross ASP Coordinator will join colleagues from other agencies in supporting an adult protection awareness stall at Murray Royal Hospital and at Perth Royal Infirmary.  
7. On 22 February 2024, colleagues from the NHS Tayside Public Protection team and Police Scotland are co-hosting a webinar covering the risks associated with 'sextortion'.