An appropriate adult (AA) is a responsible adult who is trained to support a child (legally under the age of 18 years) or vulnerable adults. The AA’s support can be provided in a number of ways, for example during meetings or interviews with professionals like police, social workers, health workers, education officers etc.
The role of an Appropriate Adult as a support worker is to:
- Safeguard clients’ rights, interests, and welfare, and minimize the risk of interviews producing unfair information.
- Ensure that the client is treated fairly during all interventions eg Police, health, social interviews etc
Job brief/ Main Responsibility
We are looking for a support worker who will act as an Appropriate Adult to join our team and support our client during engagement with the police, health and social care.
To observe whether professionals (Police, education, social care) are acting properly, fairly and with respect to the rights of our clients, and to tell them if you think they are not.
Main Responsibilities
- To carry out appropriate adult call-outs to any venue that may be required.
- To support and assist the vulnerable adult through the custody process or any relevant meeting.
- To ensure that the vulnerable adult understands their rights during any relevant process eg Police interviews, Age Assessments, meetings etc.
- To ensure that the health, well-being, legal rights, access to a solicitor and entitlements of the vulnerable adult is observed.
- To assist with communication between the vulnerable adult and the professionals.
- To consult the vulnerable adult’s custody record, to clarify and check any concerns raised by the vulnerable adult or professionals.
- To complete the appropriate adult report form, ensure that all relevant information is recorded correctly, clearly, and concisely, and ensure that this is returned to the duty officer within 24 hours of job completion.
- To Maintain the confidentiality of information received in the course of your role and ensure that information is not disclosed to a third party.
- To attend and participate in continuous training, support, and 1-1 sessions as required.
- To actively ensure the safeguarding and promote the welfare of the vulnerable adult whilst undertaking the above duties.
- Treat all individuals fairly and not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, ethnicity or racial origin, sexual orientation, social background, religion, disability, or any other factor
- Report to the manager, if there is any concern.