News round up In this feature l alternative dispute resolution l next-of-kin guidelines l financial scams book launch Encourage traders to sign up for ADR Representatives from local authority trader schemes, and from other organisations that offer dispute escalation for members, gathered to hear more about the importance of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) within the current and future UK consumer landscape. CTSI chief executive Leon Livermore outlined the need for local authority trader schemes to apply to become approved ADR bodies, to ensure their members comply fully with the information requirements of the ADR regulations. Trader information requirements state that a business must indicate an approved ADR body at the point of an unresolved dispute with a consumer. Andy Allen, CTSI ADR Competent Authority lead of cer, stressed that ADR is good news for consumers and traders. Customers have a mechanism for taking their complaint forward without having to go to court, and traders can get the view of a third party while trying to maintain their relationship with the consumer.‘As trading standards professionals, we have all met consumers who have a good case but absolutely no willingness to use the court system,’ said Allen. ‘Approved ADR gives those people a practical option, and businesses need to be encouraged to use this. ‘Local authorities should be doing all they can to help traders with whom they have a relationship to meet the trader information requirements effectively. Getting their own scheme approved is an easy way to do this.’ Jane Negus, who administers the approval scheme and is one of its auditors, stressed that approval costs have been greatly reduced, to a one-off expense of around £2,000. ‘Application and auditing are straightforward, and CTSI will guide and assist applicants through this process,’ she said. For further information and application forms, contact Jane Negus or Linda Ani in the CTSI ADR team. Make the most of new scams book CONFERENCE 2017 From left: Jo Boutflower, from the Yorkshire and the Humber Branch; Peter McVeigh, from Status International; Carolyne Dollins’ parents, Peter and Maureen Dollins; CTSI chief executive Leon Livermore; and David Lodge, from West Yorkshire Joint Services The Yorkshire and the Humber branch launched an award at Conference in memory of Carolyne Dollins, who died earlier this year at the age of 42. Dollins was a well-respected and much- loved member of West Yorkshire Trading Standards. This year, the award was presented to her parents – Peter and Maureen Dollins – by Jo Boutflower, from the Yorkshire and the Humber Branch; Peter McVeigh, from Status International; David Lodge, from West Yorkshire Joint Services; and Leon Livermore, CTSI chief executive. In future, those who make an exceptional contribution at branch level will be presented with this new award in memory of Dollins. From left: CTSI chief executive Leon Livermore, Dr Lee-Ann Fenge, Dr Sally Lee and Professor Keith Brown Brown: ‘Do the right thing by loved ones’ Professor Keith Brown reminded delegates that, legally, there is no such thing as next of kin – and revealed that he wrote guidelines around decision-making for vulnerable people ‘because no-one else would bother’. Brown told a packed plenary session: ‘I sit on the joint Ministry of Justice and Home Of ce team looking at mental capacity. We were talking about the fact that next of kin doesn’t exist, and challenging the civil servants to write national guidance for the NHS. The response we got back was: “We’re too busy.” And I thought that was bonkers – it is a major issue that society needs to understand.’ The guidelines – Next of kin: Understanding decision-making authorities, written by Brown and Daisy Bogg, from the National Centre for Post-Qualifying Social Work and Professional Practice – were published last year. Brown urged delegates to make sure they nominate a legal power of attorney (LPA) – someone who can speak for them if they become unable to communicate. He referred to the case of PC Paul Briggs, who was left brain damaged after being knocked off his motorbike. His wife, Lindsey, fought a year-long legal battle for the right for her husband to be allowed to die. ‘Surely we owe it to our loved ones to do the right thing for them, so they don’t have to spend a year going through a court of protection to try to change things,’ Brown said. He also pointed out how understanding mental capacity and the powers of attorney are linked to protecting people from scamming – for example, asking a trusted relative or friend to have LPA over a vulnerable person’s nances so they could be contacted if there was a large transaction pending. Commenting on why he agreed to write the guidelines, Brown said: ‘Sometimes we need to remind ourselves why we do our jobs. And we exercise appropriate professional judgement and do the right thing.’ Credits To share this page, Images: Sam Atkins click on in the toolbar Delegates listening to Professor Keith Brown speaking about his work on the next of kin guidelines You might also like Conference news – July 2016 When Professor Keith Brown spoke at the launch of Safeguarding Adults: Scamming and Mental Capacity – the eagerly awaited new book from the National Centre for Post-Qualifying Social Work and Professional Practice – the audience was taken from tears to laughter to indignation, and left inspired. Brown told the story of his mum – a proud, elegant woman – who was sold £3,500 worth of vitamin supplements in the space of two and a half weeks. ‘She probably had enough vitamin D in her house to kill the whole street,’ Brown said. ‘Because somebody, somewhere, knew they could sell to my mum – because she couldn’t remember she’d bought them the previous week. These are our relatives, our neighbours and our friends. And nancial scamming is having a massive impact on them all.’ The book – complied by Brown, Dr Lee-Ann Fenge and Dr Sally Lee – is being given free to local authorities to help raise awareness of the scale and effects of nancial scams. Brown hopes it will help trading standards departments to coordinate more effectively with other services, such as the police, ambulance and adult social care. ‘The reality is, when I speak to groups of social workers, they’ve never really heard of you,’ said Brown. ‘Yet you are some of the most vital assets in protecting some of the most vulnerable people in our society. So [we need] to get local government and local services and health services together. ‘I want to urge you all to take this text and share it with your communities. I hope we can work together to make this understanding of scamming something society will want to react to.’ Brown concluded: ‘I want to thank my team and you for making a real difference in our society.’ CTSI chief executive Leon Livermore added: ‘Don’t let the book just sit on the shelf. If we want to get the value of this work, we’ve got to take the next step.’ Lynn Faulds Wood and Professor Keith Brown speaking about the guidelines around decision- making for vulnerable people