THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A VOLUNTEER APPROPRIATE ADULT SCHEME

This paper discusses the first evaluation to be undertaken of a volunt eer Appropriate Adult scheme for mentally vulnerable adults. Southampt on MIND was granted funding by the Mental Health Foundation to impleme nt a volunteer Appropriate Adult scheme which began in April 1994 and lasted for two years. The Mental Health Foundation required an evaluat ion from an independent organization, the implications of which are ex amined here against the background of previous research conducted by t he authors on the use of Appropriate Adult protection for mentally vul nerable adults in the police station. We show that a basic Appropriate Adult training programme has been devised and that there are people w illing to take on this training and the onerous role for which it prep ares them.