Social Work - Appropriate Adult Training Course

Below you will find an indication of the content of NAAN’s appropriate adult training. Ice-breaking and assessment: This module is highly interactive and focuses on the learners’ expectations and anxieties about taking on the AA role. The trainer will establish the key questions that the group would like answered by the end of the training. It also uses a quiz format to establish current knowledge levels and create a positive and confident atmosphere for the rest of the training. Introduction to the role: This module provides a fundamental introduction to the role. Learners will gain an understanding of why and how the role came about and an introduction to the basic legal framework in which it operates. The module considers who needs an AA and why, eligibility for the AA role, the purpose of the role, when an AA must be present and the powers they have. Through interactive activity and discussion, learners will consider whether they are present to support the individual or the police. Preparation: Taking the role of AA chronologically, this module highlights the importance of effective preparation before attending as an AA. It considers the consequences of poor preparation and provides advice and practical tools. The module also looks at the role of legal advice, the importance of legal privilege in the different roles of AA and solicitor, and includes interactive sessions on managing objections to taking up legal advice. At the police station: This module provides learners with an opportunity to consider the early stages of the role. It considers the importance of confidence and assertiveness, while highlighting important factors such as the custody record and the explanation of rights and entitlements. Key changes to police station practice brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic (June 2020) will be explored. Learners will gain an understanding of the function of their consultation with a suspect and how to approach them, including the importance of confidentiality and when it can be breached. This module also ensures learners have an awareness of the conditions / mental vulnerabilities they may encounter and explore how best to support effective communication. The issues surrounding fitness to detain and fitness to interview are considered.