Social Work, Social Care and Health Spotlight Series: Adult Support and Protection

Date and time: Tuesday, 9 September 2025, 10:00 am - 11:00 am (GMT)

Welcome to our ‘Spotlight Sessions’ – events designed to raise awareness of an idea, approach or research that we believe could interest and inspire those involved in Social Work, Social Care, Health and related Third and Voluntary sectors. These sessions are open to all and recommended for anyone across all sectors interested in understanding more.

As Leading to Change, we are delivering a series of awareness sessions relating to core themes within Social Work and Social Care with the intention of ‘shining a light’ into the areas of the sector that others may know very little or nothing about.

We want to give people insights into roles and functions and the impact on ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ with a view to reinforcing the message about collaborative leadership and the difference it can make.

We will welcome into the conversation Brenda Walker. Brenda is the National Adult Support and Protection Coordinator for IRISS.
Brenda will talk to us about the purpose of the Adult Support and Protection Act 2007, who meets the legislative criteria and about what happens after an ASP referral is made.
We will also have an overview of The National Adult Support and Protection Learning and Development Framework, plus other national ASP developments.

Brenda Walker

Role:: National Adult Support and Protection Coordinator for IRISS

Brenda Walker has worked across the sectors in a career which has included working with statutory and voluntary sector bodies and with some of the most vulnerable adults and young people from across the UK. She has been involved in work around supporting Adults at Risk of Harm – as defined in the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, for around 15 years. As Adult Support and Protection Lead Officer in North Ayrshire – she was involved in supporting strategic, multi-agency continuous improvement, relating to the effective support and protection of adults for 12 years. The North Ayrshire Adult Protection Committee volunteered to be involved in the very first round of Adult Support and Protection Scrutiny and Inspection activity in 2017. They were keen to be at the forefront of improving their approaches to supporting and protecting adults, through the lens of external scrutiny provided by the Care Inspectorate and its Inspection partners. Brenda was also the Chair of the Social Work Scotland Adult Support and Protection Subgroup for 3 years, prior to taking on the role of National Adult Support and Protection Coordinator for Scotland. Above all, Brenda is passionate about working with colleagues across sectors and agencies to promote the support and protection of Adults at Risk of Harm.