Newsletter - June 2025

Adult Support and Protection Newsletter - June 2025

Team & Agency Information sessions

We are pleased to share that we have a range of teams/agencies who have kindly offered up their time and resource to deliver information sessions for practitioners to find out more about their service and supports available. These sessions will include information on referral processes & eligibility criteria and there will also be opportunities for networking.

We hope this will support with the induction for new employees by increasing their knowledge and awareness of the various teams & agencies that operate in West Lothian. We also welcome anyone interested in finding out more about other teams / services to attend.

Examples of teams who have agreed to provide information sessions so far include:

  • Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Team
  • Mental Health Advocacy Project
  • Community Addictions Service
  • EARS Advocacy
  • Justice Services

Booking available through our  Social Policy Eventbrite page (opens new window)

 

Relocation of the Adult Support and Protection Team (Social Work)

The Adult Support and Protection Social Work team recently relocated from Strathbrock Partnership Centre in Broxburn to the Civic Centre in Livingston.

The 'AP1 form' for making Adult Support and Protection referrals has now been developed in to an online referral form which can be accessed at the link below. Once submitted, your referral will be sent straight to our Adult Support and Protection Team.

Refer an adult at risk of harm, abuse or neglect

 

Gender Based Violence - Safe & Together September

The Safe and Together model is a best practice approach to helping partner agencies make good decisions for children affected by domestic abuse perpetrators. The model encourages partnership working with protective parents and a move away from the emphasis on the victim's 'failure to protect', which can result in families disengaging from services and increased risk.  The model considers the range of ways in which domestic abuse can impact on children, rather than just focusing on individual incidents of physical abuse.

There will be various opportunities over September for practitioners to increase their understanding of what the model is and how it is best used in practice starting with a drop-in afternoon on Monday 1st September. 

Key dates for your diary with links to book in:

26/08 -  Safe and Together Practitioner Workshop - In person 14:00-16:00

01/09 - Safe and Together Drop in Afternoon - In person Conference Room 1 Civic Centre 12:00-14:00

18/09 - Safe and Together Briefing 10:00-12:00 (MS Teams)

29/09 - Safe and Together Briefing  10:00-12:00 (MS Teams)

Booking available through our  Social Policy Eventbrite page (opens new window)

 

Hoarding Awareness

12th-16th May was National Hoarding Awareness week.  A range of online seminars were offered by Hoarding Disorders UK & hopefully some practitioners managed to attend. 

A hoarding awareness training course is currently in development.  Dates and booking details will be circulated once the  course has been finalised.

 

Launch of the Suicide Prevention Scotland Public Awareness Campaign

Suicide is a topic that makes many of us nervous; it can feel like the hardest thing in the world.  What if I say the wrong thing?  Could I make the situation worse?  Maybe I'm worrying over nothing and would look foolish if I bring it up?

But here's something lots of people don't realise....Talking about suicide is the best way to prevent it from happening.

Suicide Prevention Scotland's new campaign is about normalising the idea of talking about suicide and giving people the confidence to do so.

 

Watch this short film: What if a conversation about suicide could save a life?

What if a conversation about suicide could save a life? - Suicide Prevention Scotland. https://www.suicideprevention.scot/whatif (opens new window)

 

What we have been reading, watching and listening to

Reading:

A number of resources on the Safe and Together Model can be found on the IRISS resource hub: IRISS website (opens new window)

Videos:

Keith's Story, 'Life With Hoarding Disorder' (2016) is available to view on YouTube : 

Nigel's Journey with Hoarding Disorder:

Podcasts:

Keith followed this up on a podcast where he gave an update on his situation seven years later (2023)