Website of the Department of Health

The Protection of Vulnerable Adults list: an investigation of referral patterns and approaches to decision-making

Published: 31 July 2008

This document holds a research report that provides an in-depth analysis of referrals to the POVA list, and explores the factors leading to a placement on the POVA list, commonalities and differences within a sample of referrals to the list and considers how referral decisions are made.  Kings College London undertook the research, which Department of Health commissioned and funded.  It follows on from the first phase of research that looked at the first 100 referrals to the POVA list, published on 26 July 2005.

• The Protection of Vulnerable Adults list: an investigation of referral patterns and approaches to decision-making

Partnership and regulation in adult protection: the effectiveness of multi-agency working and the regulatory framework in adult protection

Published: 21/12/2007 14:56

This study is one of eleven research studies that make up the Modernisation of Adult Social Care (MASC) research initiative, which DH commissioned and sponsored between 2003 and 2007.

• Partnership and regulation in adult protection: the effectiveness of multi-agency working and the regulatory framework in adult protection

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act Barring Consultation

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 introduces a new vetting and barring scheme for those who work with children and vulnerable adults. The scheme is due for introduction from Autumn 2008 and will replace the POCA and POVA schemes. The scheme will cover health and social care services. A DfES consultation, concerning the policy for barring those individuals referred to the scheme, closed on 14 September 2007.

UK study of abuse and neglect of older people

The UK study of abuse and neglect of older people (carried out by the National Centre for Social Research and King’s College London) was commissioned and co-funded by Comic Relief and the Department of Health. The prevalence study, published on 13 June 2007, provides the first nationally representative prevalence estimates of elder mistreatment in the UK.

A further study, published on 7 September 2007, presents findings of in-depth interviews with a selection of older people who have experienced abuse and mistreatment.

• UK study of abuse and neglect of older people: prevalence survey report and qualitative findings (opens new window)

Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoVA)scheme

Overview of scheme

Guidance on, and background to, the POVA scheme, with FAQs. From 26 July 2004, individuals should be referred to, and included on, the POVA list if they have abused, neglected or otherwise harmed vulnerable adults in their care or placed vulnerable adults in their care at risk of harm. By making statutory checks against the list, providers of care must not offer such individuals employment in care positions.

• Protection of Vulnerable Adults scheme (POVA)
• Download Overview of POVA implementation flowchart (PDF, 38K)
• Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) Guidance 2006

SCIE POVA Guidance:

Publication produced by the Social Care Institute for Excellence, on good practice for making referrals to the Protection of Vulnerable Adults List. This will help to give employers better information about when and who to refer to the PoVA List. It will lead to better referrals which, importantly, will increase the protection of vulnerable people by removing those who are clearly unsuitable to work in regulated social care

• SCIE POVA Guidance: (opens new window)
• Download POVA referral form (updated February 2008) (DOC, 883K)

POVAFirst checks

Under the Care Standards Act staff working in a care position cannot start work until they have been checked against the POVA list. POVA checks are only available as part of a CRB Disclosure. Where an employer needs to recruit a new member of staff quickly they can request a POVA First check. This enables employers to check prospective employees against the POVA list without having to wait for the full Disclosure.

• POVAFirst (opens new window)

POVA referrals - the first 100

• POVA referrals - the first 100

Protection of Vulnerable Adults - November 2005 Meeting

• Protection of Vulnerable Adults - November 2005 Meeting

Bichard vetting and barring scheme

In response to recommendation 19 of the Bichard Inquiry, the Government is introducing a new vetting and barring scheme for people who work with children and vulnerable adults.

• Bichard vetting and barring scheme

Health Select Committee Inquiry into Elder Abuse

June 2004.

• The Government's response to the Committee's recommendations and conclusions

No Secrets

In 2000, the Government published a national framework, "No Secrets", so that local councils with social services responsibilities, local NHS bodies, local police forces and other partners could develop local multi-agency codes of practice to help prevent and tackle abuse. Codes of practice were to be in place by October 2001.The multi-agency codes of practice, developed in response to "No Secrets", have been evaluated by the Centre for Policy on Ageing on behalf of the Department of Health.

• No secrets: guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse
• No secrets: the protection of vulnerable adults - Findings from an analysis of local codes of practice
• In Safe Hands: Implementing Adult Protection Procedures in Wales. (opens new window)