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Adult Protection

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Information for Adult Protection (AP, or Adult Support and Protection ASP) professionals. These include nominated or Council officers; chairs of AP case conferences or Large Scale Investigations (LSIs) or their managers.

Members of the public are recommended to go to the Adult support and protection section for information. Professionals who work in partner agencies, in health or social care settings should also use this method to report adult concerns.

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ASP DAY 2026 | 20th February | 10am-12pm

💜 We look forward to welcoming you.
Adult Protection Team, NHS Highland
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ASP Day Details

You are warmly invited to join our Adult Support and Protection (ASP) Day on Friday 20 February, 10:00am–12:00pm, held online via Microsoft Teams.
This year’s focus is ASP in care settings & increasing general awareness of ASP, with insights from three fantastic speakers:
  • Jamie McNab – Jamie McNab, BSc, RN, SPQ DN, MSc Adv Prac, Queens Nurse Quality Manager
    Jamie will speak about her experiences of ASP within health and social care settings.
  • Mark McGinty – FCTSI CTSP Trading Standards Team Leader, Highland Council
    Mark will discuss community awareness of ASP and the role Trading Standards play in protecting adults.
  • Lucille Brooks – Deputy Manager
    Lucille will share her own personal experience of ASP, along with reflections from her professional practice.

Who is this session for?

This event is aimed at staff who support adults across hospitals and a wide range of care settings, and we hope to welcome a broad and varied audience.

There will also be opportunities throughout the session to ask questions and engage with our speakers.

You’ll hear real‑life perspectives, and build confidence around recognising and responding to harm.
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You are very welcome to share the Teams link with colleagues and staff teams who may also benefit from attending.
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Posters are available if you’d like to display them in your workplace.
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The ASP team would be happy to do some outreach work â€“ they can pop by to say hi, introduce themselves, answer any questions, and chat about staff training needs.

If you’re interested in either, just drop molly.gilbert@nhs.scot a message 😊

ASP LSI Development Session | 24th February 2026 via Teams

The ASP Team are also hosting a development session in addition to this:
Tuesday 24th February, 11.30-12.30 Via teams
We welcome Jeanette Sutton, Development Lead (Associate), IRISS to present and discuss the new National LSI (Large Scale Investigation) Guidance.  There will also be an opportunity to ask questions at a local level too.
  
For this development session we welcome colleagues across agencies - Health, Social Work & Police. 

IRISS Online Sessions: 23rd, 25th, 26th of February 2026

In addition to our own ASP Campaign IRISS have a range of online sessions that may be of interest:
 
National IRISS / NASPC Events (week following ASP Day)
Although these take place after ASP Day, they form part of our full engagement package for staff and partners. National colleagues have asked partnerships not to overload the day itself so that local activity can shine. These include:
  • 23 February: ASPire session focusing on ASP in Supported Settings with contributions from Scottish Care, Iriss, and the Care Inspectorate. REGISTER HERE
  • 25 February: Online launch of the National ASP Learning & Development Framework. REGISTER HERE
  • 26 February: A basic ASP awareness session, suitable for staff or volunteers who need an introduction. This will be recorded and added to the ASPire Hub. REGISTER HERE
These national sessions complement our local work by widening access to consistent ASP learning across Highland.

Important: Reporting adult protection concerns - for professionals and partner agencies

If you are a health or social care worker, a professional or a member of a partner agency please use the public SPOA phone and email contacts and also use this Adult Concern Form to report any concerns to your local Adult Social Care team:

If someone is in imminent danger a call to the emergency services may be required.

The 3 Point Test

If you think you know someone who is being harmed, or at risk of being harmed, you must create an ASP Referral.

An Adult at Risk is defined by the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 via "The 3 Point Test" is someone who:

  1. is an adult aged 16 or over who is unable to protect themselves from someone harming them, or from exploitation and neglect, or to safeguard their own wellbeing, property, rights or other interests
  2. and is at risk of harm
  3. and because they are affected by disability, mental disorder, illness or physical or mental infirmity, is more vulnerable to being harmed than adults who are not so affected.

All three of the above criteria must be met.

Local and national policies and procedures exist which apply whenever abuse is suspected, or has occurred, and where specific action is required by statutory agencies to ensure the protection of the person.

If you're unsure of the support you need, or unsure how to support someone else, please reach out.

Useful links

Subscribe to the ASP monthly newsletter.

Other helpful organisations

 

Videos

Other public protection groups in Highland

Leaflets and other publications

Adult Protection

  • Adult Protection

    Information for Adult Protection (AP, or Adult Support and Protection ASP) professionals. These include nominated or ...

  • Highland Adult Protection Committee

    Information and news about the Highland Adult Protection Committee and the work it does.

  • Local ASP procedures

    Adult support and protection enquiries and investigations are undertaken by NHS Highland Adult Social Care Profession...

  • News items, newsletters, reports and audits

    News, AP newsletters, audit reports, national and other Area review and Investigation reports - for Adult Protection...

  • Protection topics

    Criminal Exploitation, FGM, Financial Harm, Forced Marriage, Hoarding, Missing Persons, Modern Slavery, PREVENT, SARC...

  • Tools, links, legislation and national guidance

    Helpful links, tools, templates, legislation and national guidance pertaining to adult protection.

  • ASP training

    Highland Adult Support and Protection (ASP) trainer-led events and e-modules are accessed via the Turas Learn system.

Last updated: 6 February 2026

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