Appropriate Adults Service SPS 2473

The Appropriate Adult Service will be provided to children who have been detained in police custody and will meet new requirements for appropriate adults
The service will provide a trained Appropriate Adult to attend a custody suite, prison and voluntary interviews at and away from police stations when a young person aged between 10-17 years is detained, and their carer/s are unable or unwilling to attend. The service will be delivered 24 hours per day, 7 days a week to support young people through police proceedings in the three London boroughs of Bexley, Lewisham and the Royal Borough of Greenwich for appropriate adults
• To provide a quality Appropriate Adult service 24 hours per day, 7 days a week in which trained volunteers attend a custody suite, prison and voluntary interviews at and away from police stations within the 3 boroughs of Bexley, Lewisham and the Royal Borough of Greenwich, when a child aged between 10-17 years is detained and their carer/s unable/unwilling to attend in order to act as an Appropriate Adult.
• The Service must be delivered in line with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (1984) and its code of practice PACE guidelines and the NAAN National Standards (2018) and to ensure that the child's interests are safeguarded, they understand their rights and police procedures during their detention and clear communication is facilitated.
• To provide verbal and written information to children and families about relevant services and where appropriate signpost and refer children to services that can meet their identified needs in respect of preventing (further) offending and antisocial behaviour.