The effectiveness of a volunteer appropriate adult scheme

This paper discusses the first evaluation to be undertaken of a volunteer Appropriate Adult scheme for mentally vulnerable adults. Southampton MIND was granted funding by the Mental Health Foundation to implement a volunteer Appropriate Adult scheme which began in April 1994 and lasted for two years. The Mental Health Foundation required an evaluation from an independent organization, the implications of which are examined here against the background of previous research conducted by the authors on the use of Appropriate Adult protection for mentally vulnerable adults in the police station. We show that a basic Appropriate Adult training programme has been devised and that there are people willing to take on this training and the onerous role for which it prepares them.