Welcome to your second Adult Protection Committee (APC) newsletter. Here you’ll find the latest updates from the public protection world.
The committee plans to send out a newsletter every quarter. Get in touch with [email protected] if there’s anything you’d like to hear about in future newsletters.
Cultural humility
Cultural humility is a practice of self-reflection about how our own backgrounds and the backgrounds of others can impact our relationships. It is relevant to creating an inclusive, equitable and diverse culture in health and social care. This resource has been designed to support the development of cultural humility values, attitudes, and behaviours. Included are several videos which explore the experiences of health and social care workers from varied cultural backgrounds working in Scotland.
This e-learning resource can be completed independently. It also supports further learning opportunities. Accompanying the e-learning is a resource pack that includes scenarios, templates, and ideas for group discussion.
This e-learning is part of TURAS, and a free account is required to access the resource.
Cultural humility (e-learning) | Iriss
Domestic abuse
By popular demand, and following enthusiastic reception throughout Scotland, ‘The Spider in the Glass’ training is coming to Edinburgh. Delivered in two sessions, ‘The Spider in the Glass’ helps professionals:
- to develop a trauma-informed response to domestic abuse
- to recognise the risks
- understand the links between domestic abuse and homicide, and
- understand how the MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) can prevent domestic homicide.
‘The Spider in the Glass is delivered using creative storytelling and has been extremely successful in its delivery to date. The training is suitable for anyone working in:
- Social work
- Education
- Drugs and alcohol
- Justice services
- The Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership
- Mental health
- Housing/homelessness.
Session 1: Introduction to Spider in the Glass:
Exploring a Trauma-Informed Response to Domestic Abuse
Fri 22 August 2025, 10am – 12.30pm
Session 2: The Spider in the Glass:
High Risk Cases of Domestic Abuse: Homicide and MARAC
Thu 9 Oct 2025, 10am – 12.30pm
As the training will be delivered on MS Teams, we have a large capacity to host trainees from multiple agencies and areas of work.
You can register your interest using this link
Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Human Trafficking and links to Adult Support and Protection. ASPire presentation recording – May 2025
You can now watch the recording of the above ASPire session on the Iriss ASPire Hub as well as all previous ASPire recordings.
You can find the presentation slides and some other useful resources there too.
AI webinar series: Beyond the Buzz
We are delighted to announce the launch a new three-part webinar series Beyond the Buzz designed to demystify artificial intelligence (AI) and support the workforce to confidently and responsibly engage with AI as a tool for service transformation. Each session builds knowledge, encourages critical thinking, and promotes a people-first approach to technology.
You can find out more on TURAS
Led by NHS Education for Scotland, on behalf of Scottish Government and COSLA, the first webinar in the series AI in Action will focus on our speakers sharing their experiences and personal reflections of how new technologies will impact on the health and social care sector.
These webinars are designed to support employees from all health and social care settings in Scotland including:
- NHS
- local authorities
- health and social care partnerships
- social work
- social care
- care and support providers
- housing
- third and independent sectors.
Webinar 1: AI in Action: Empowering Scotland’s Health and Social Care Workforce
Date: Tue 19 Aug
Time: 11am – 12 noon
Register for webinar 1 using this link
Free online learning event – awareness and responses to drug overdose
In honour of International Overdose Awareness Day on 31 August 2025, we are offering another webinar to update the workforce on current drug trends and offer advice on responding to overdose and other forms of assertive outreach.
We will also hear some of the findings from a piece of audit work Scottish Ambulance Service have recently undertaken into Ambulance call outs for young people (under 25) and what it means for our practice.
This learning event is taking place on Thursday 4 September 4-5.30pm on MS Teams.
There’s no need to register in advance, just save or click on the meeting link at the time of the event.
Everyone welcome, so please do share this widely with teams and services.
Stalking
The APLO attended a presentation by Action Against Stalking arranged by the Equally Safe Committee.
The big talking points from the presentation were:
- 11% of people in Scotland experience stalking
- 25% of victims have suicidal thoughts, and
- 20% of victims are men, but women remain most at risk.
Those aged under 25 experience the most stalking behaviours.
Find out more on the Action Against Stalking website
Training booking site
The new online booking management system will be accessible at www.mylearninghub.events from 1 April 2025.
It will provide a streamlined and accessible method for the multi-agency workforce to access learning events for those with responsibilities for child, adult, and wider public protection.
You can no longer book or find details via a pdf calendar or email for all Multi-Agency Public Protection, Adult Support and Protection, and Child Protection learning events. The [email protected] will no longer be operational for this and will automatically redirect users to www.mylearninghub.events.
Who is this for?
The system is designed for those employees or volunteers with responsibilities for child, adult, and wider public protection from:
- The Council
- NHS Lothian
- Police Scotland
- Third sector partners
- SFRS
- Private providers.
Email [email protected] for any troubleshooting or enquiries.
APC Annual Report to the Chief Officers Group
The APC’s annual report has just been published for the year 2024 – 2025. This report contains all the past years data and pertinent updates. You can read the report on the Adult Protection Committee web pages
Policy developments
Multi-agency support protocol for victims of human trafficking and exploitation
The Public Protection Committees have jointly committed to undertaking a review of Edinburgh’s Multi-Agency Support Protocol for Victims of Human Trafficking and Exploitation (previously agreed by COG 9 October 2015).
This work crosses over heavily with the work of the Child Protectionand Equally Safe committees requiring a coordinated approach. This work will now likely commence late in 2025 following the Scottish Governments publication of their Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy on 30th July.
Domestic abuse procedures
The Equally Safe is nearing completion of a new domestic abuse procedure to marry existing domestic abuse policies. We expect the new procedures to be published in October/November 2025.
These procedures have been produced by a multi-agency group and should provide workers and staff with clear directions on how to respond confidently and appropriately in cases of domestic abuse.
Partners in Advocacy Rebranding
Partners in Advocacy have rebranded and their new website is now live. You can see it at: https://www.pia.scot
PIA hope you like their new branding style and are working hard to ensure they get accessibility right for everyone who needs or wants to connect with them. Please have a look when you have time and, as usual, they’re always open to feedback – if you spot something that isn’t quite right, do let them know.
You’ll notice PIA have a new telephone number too but don’t worry, in this transition period, their old telephone numbers are still operational. Lastly, their emails are changing too, but again their usual emails are still in good working order!
