>
>Richard
>
>This is a really interesting - and awful - case from scottish borders -
>I thought it would be of interest to lots of people. Would you circulate
>it on your email list
>
>Glyn
>
>Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Ana Padilla [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 06 May 2004 16:31
>To: Anthony A Sneider; Hugh Foot; Rory O'Connor; Mark Ramm; Murphy,
>Glynis; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; Camilla
>Herbert; Catherine Dooley; Ray Miller; Christina Docchar; Lesley Dexter;
>George Delafield; Annjannette Sapey
>Cc: MARAS PAMELA F; [log in to unmask]; Stephen White
>Subject: Social Work Services Inspectorate in Scotland- reports
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Dear all,
>
>I do apologise for any possible duplication.
>Today, the Social Work Services Inspectorate in Scotland has release 2
>documents that will be of interest to you:
>
>Investigations into Scottish Borders Council and NHS Borders Services
>for People with Learning Disabilities: Joint Statement from the Mental
>Welfare Commission and the Social Work Services Inspectorate (This
>document combines the recommendations from the Mental Welfare Commission
>and the Social Work Services Inspectorate reports into the Borders
>inspections) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/social/swsisbpds.pdf
>
>and:
>Report of the Inspection of Scottish Borders Council Social Work
>Services for People Affected by Learning Disabilities (This report
>describes in detail the findings of SWSI's inspection.)
>http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/social/bcpald.pdf
>
>THE FACTS OF THE CASE
>On 1 March 2002, a woman was admitted to Borders General Hospital after
>she had gone to the house of a friend who found her to be badly injured
>and called an ambulance. She was taken to hospital with multiple
>injuries from physical and sexual assault. A police investigation
>revealed a catalogue of abuse and assaults over the previous weeks and
>possibly much longer. Three men were convicted of the assaults later in
>2002.
>
>The woman was considered to have a learning disability. A series of
>events had led to her being cared for by one of the convicted offenders.
>Over many years, there were events and statements in records held by
>social work, health services and the police that raised serious concerns
>about this person's behaviour toward this woman.
>
>According to today;'s Guardian, 'A change in the law to protect
>vulnerable adults was expected to be recommended today in a report by
>social work inspectors after their investigation into the case of a
>woman with learning difficulties who was assaulted'
>
>Full copy of the article is included below.
>
>Please circulate to all interested parties.
>
>Best,
>
>ana
>
>Dr Ana Padilla
>Parliamentary Officer
>The British Psychological Society
>
>33 John Street
>London
>WC1N 2AT
>
>Phone: 020 7692 3412
>Fax: 020 7419 6922
>Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>Assault may trigger change in law
>Debbie Andalo
>Thursday May 6, 2004
>The Guardian
>
>A change in the law to protect vulnerable adults was expected to be
>recommended today in a report by social work inspectors after their
>investigation into the case of a woman with learning difficulties who
>was assaulted.
>
>The report, by the Social Work Services Inspectorate in Scotland, was
>due to coincide with a statement by the Scottish education and young
>people minister, Peter Peacock, to SMPs in the Scottish parliament this
>afternoon.
>
>The inspectorate announced in June last year that it was to inspect the
>social work services provided by Scottish Borders council to "Miss X"
>and members of her family.
>
>They were also due to consider whether there were any failings in the
>council's practice, management or social care systems.
>
>The investigation was launched nearly a year after three men involved in
>the case, including a carer, were sentenced to between seven and 10
>years when they appeared at the high court in Edinburgh in August 2002.
>
>Today's report is the fifth investigation into the case which have so
>far all highlighted serious failings in the council's social work
>department.
>
>The Scottish executive refused to discuss the SWSI's report ahead of the
>minister's announcement but it is understood that its recommendations
>will have significant repercussions for the care of people with learning
>difficulties across the whole of the UK.
>
>
>
>**********************************************************************
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>intended.  If you have received it in error please notify the sender and
>delete. Any information expressed is not necessarily the position of the
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>**********************************************************************


--
Dr Richard Hastings
Reader in Psychology
School of Psychology
University of Wales Bangor
Bangor
Gwynedd  LL57 2DG
Wales, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1248 388214
Fax: +44 (0)1248 383718
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Unit e-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.psychology.bangor.ac.uk/~richard_hastings

Special Needs and Families Research Project web site:
http://www.psychology.bangor.ac.uk/special_needs/