Electronic Interagency Referral
Discussions (E-IRDs)
Engagement with the Police
The West Lothian Approach to
Electronic Adult Protection
IT in support of information sharing between Health and Social
Care
24th April 2013 at the National Museums of Scotland
David Robertson, Senior Responsible Officer - Information Sharing, West Lothian
Community Health and Care Partnership
Nick Clater, Group Manager – Protection & Emergency Services, West Lothian
Council
Adult Support and Protection (Scotland)
Act 2007 - Duty to cooperate
The Act sets out statutory duties of co-operation for certain public
bodies and their office-holders:
Councils
NHS boards
Police
Care Commission
Mental Welfare Commission; and
the 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.
Information Sharing: the Law
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 1998
The Common Law Duty of Confidentiality
The 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.
Definition of E-IRDs
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.
Purpose 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.
Process, Recording & Timescales 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.
Information sharing systems
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
Linked IT Systems
Social Services SWIFT
NHS TRAK
Education Services SEEMIS
Council General Enquiry Tracking System
GP’s GPASS
Information Sharing (eCare & C-me)
New in 2013 Cross Agency CP Link with Lanarkshire
Log In Screen
RobertsonD
******
Home Page - Searching
Justine
Bell
Name
JustineBell
Bell
Justine
JustineBell
Bell
Justine
JustinBell
Bell
Justin
SWIFT
EMS
CIS
Add IRD
CPR!
14 Jun 1999
F
Core Data Set - Chronology
Justine Bell
Justine Bell
CPR!
Register an Interest Pop-Up
Justine Bell
Home Page - Adding an IRD to a client
Bell
Justine
Name
Justine Bell
Justine Bell
Justin Bell
Add IRD
SWIFT
EMS
CIS
CPR!
14 Jun 1999
F
IRD Form Front Page
IRD Form Page 2
What have we learned so far?
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
Outcomes & Benefits of E-IRDs
Number of IRDs recorded prior to March 2010 (implementation): 34 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)
What are we going to do now?
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
Thank You for Listening
Any Questions?
David Robertson, Senior Responsible Officer - Information Sharing, West Lothian
Community Health and Care Partnership
Nick Clater, Group Manager – Protection & Emergency Services, West Lothian
Council