Aberdeen’s Adult Protection Committee and Child Protection Committee have a new independent convener to lead on the support and protection of adults and young people at risk across the city.
Adrian Watson takes over from outgoing convener Sheena Gault on both the APC and CPC, and will serve a two-year fixed appointment, until April 2022.
The APC represents partner organisations who support and protect adults who cannot ensure their own safety, property or rights due to disability, mental disorder, illness, or physical or mental infirmity. Vulnerable adults may be at risk of harm from family members, professional staff, paid or unpaid carers, volunteers, other service users, neighbours, friends and associates, or strangers.
Mr Watson will also chair and oversee the CPC, which is a multi-agency strategic partnership responsible for child protection policy and practice across Aberdeen City. The CPC is also responsible for the quality assurance of multi-agency practice and ensuring that the measures put in place lead to improving outcomes for children and young people.
Mr Watson is currently the CEO of Aberdeen Inspired. Previously, he was the Police Commander in Aberdeen City and led on Police Scotland’s commitment to public protection for the city. He was vice-chair for Community Planning Aberdeen and continues to be a strong advocate of collaborative working across the sectors in Aberdeen and the wider North East of Scotland.
Mr Watson said: “Adult support and protection concerns have increased during the Covid-19 pandemic and so the committee has an ever more vital role to play to protect people from harm.
“Support needs have changed during the outbreak, placing more people at risk of harm. Both APC and CPC partners are very aware of how the virus may have created a physical infirmity or caused vulnerable people to isolate themselves more, creating new risks which impact upon their ability to safeguard their wellbeing, property, rights or other interests.”
The APC convener has to produce a report on the activities of the committee every two years. The last report, covering April 2018 to March 2020, can be found here.
The protection of vulnerable people remains a priority for Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership, Aberdeen City Council, NHS Grampian, Police Scotland and other partners. All the organisations work together to focus on prevention and early intervention.
Anyone who knows or suspects an adult is being harmed should make sure the person is safe, call 999 if immediate help is needed, or complete the secure online form to report their concerns at Report adult protection concerns or contact Aberdeen City Council Duty Social Work Team/Out of Hours Social Work Team (24 hours) tel 0800 731 5520, Police Scotland tel 101, or the Care Inspectorate tel 0345 600 9527.
Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. If you are worried about the safety of a child in Aberdeen call Police Scotland on 101 (or 999 in an emergency) or call the Joint Child Protection Team on 01224 306877. Contact us even if you are unsure, then we can take steps to assess the risk to the child and, if needed, to protect them.
When making contact, people will be asked who they are calling about and why, and whether they know the person involved. Callers do not need to give their own name.
