Safeguarding Adults Procedures

122 Practice Guidance on Attendance of Solicitors at Adult Safeguarding Meetings Summary The Enquiry Planning Meetings (EPMs) and Enquiry Review Meetings (ERMs) are not a legal process. Therefore, it is not a forum for legal representatives of service providers to attend. A separate meeting may be convened for legal representatives to meet and discuss issues relevant to them. Any request for solicitors to attend a safeguarding meeting will be considered on a case by case basis. The Chair of the safeguarding meeting will determine whether it is in the person’s best interest. Key points:  It is necessary that the request to attend will be made by the service provider who wishes a solicitor to attend with them, in writing. On no account will a solicitor be permitted to attend in place of an organisational representative. A minimum of five days’ advance notice is required.  The Chairperson should make it clear at the start of the meeting that the safeguarding enquiry meeting is to safeguard the victim and not to attribute blame for what may have occurred.  If a solicitor is permitted to be present during a safeguarding meeting this is on the strict understanding that they are there to support their client and not in a participative capacity in relation to the issues discussed at the meeting. Appendix 19 – Practice Guidance of attendance of Solicitors at SA meetings