News Items, Newsletters, Reports and Audits

Please see the below link for the new guidance and supporting documents including public awareness posters and factsheets and a list of organisations that can provide support to victims.

Forced Marriage Statutory Guidance - Scottish Government

Please follow this link for full details:-

Highland Adult Protection Inspection Report

The SSSC's new Codes of Practice can be found by following this link:-

SSSC Codes of Practice

A leaflet about ASP Case Conferences can be found below:

Adult Support & Protection - Case Conferences leaflet

Please find the updated Continuous Improvement Framework via the following link:-

Continuous Improvement Framework rev 11-2023

The outcome of this Learning Review (see link at bottom of page) centres on the Adult Protection response to the circumstances of three vulnerable elderly men. It identifies missed opportunities at various stages by agencies, The Highland Council, the National Health Service Highland and Police Scotland, to identify the risks to the brothers, and also, importantly, the opportunity to protect them from further harm including, and in particular, financial harm.

We note the findings of this Learning Review. These will be considered in detail. We offer our apologies to the family where the actions of the agencies involved may not have fully met their expectations or the McCulloch brothers’ needs. 

Police Scotland is reviewing the evidence gathered during criminal investigations carried out in 2017 and 2018, to ensure that all appropriate actions were taken at that time. This will ascertain whether any further criminal investigation is required. 

The Care Inspectorate in its recent inspection, with HMICS and Health Improvement Scotland, (see link at bottom of page), notes the strength of the multi-agency response to adult support and protection in Highland. Its report concluded that there are effective adult support and protection practices across the Highland Partnership and highlights person-centred practice and clear improvements from the previous inspection. 

Our thoughts remain with the family of Hugh, Roderick and David McCulloch.

Derek Brown  Chief Executive, The Highland Council

Rob Shepherd  Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland

Fiona Davies  Chief Executive, National Health Service Highland

Learning Review McCulloch Case

Joint Inspection of Highland Adult Protection - April 2024