Agenda item

The Annual Report describes how the Board’s agencies, both jointly and independently, work to ensure the safety of those people within the boroughs who are deemed to be most at risk of harm through the actions of other people.

Mike Howard, Independent Chair, presented that Safeguarding Adults Executive Board Annual Report 2014/15 to the Committee.  He noted that the Board works to ensure the safety of those people within the borough who are deemed to be most at risk of harm through the actions of other people.  The Care Act 2014 was passed in April 2015 requiring:-

·         Local authorities to establish an Safeguarding Adults Board

·         The Safeguarding Adults Board to present an annual report

·         Requiring Safeguarding Adults Board  to commission Safeguarding Adults Review

·         Developing a strategy in consultation with the local community and residents, and with Healthwatch.

He drew the Committee’s attention to a display board which showed some of its work  in involving local people in safeguarding adults.  The display board highlighted  comments from a consultation event in November 2015. 

Some of the Board’s achievements included:-

·         Undertaking Safeguarding Adult case reviews

·         Producing a Safer Recruitment guide for organisations

·         Safeguarding Adult guidelines for staff

Thresholds for responding to safeguarding concerns

Members inquired about the Board’s work around:-

·         Terrorism and grooming of vulnerable adults. 

·         Homelessness and vulnerability

·         The impact of benefit changes and new service provision

·         People with learning disabilities

·         Issues of isolation and neglect abuse

Mr Howard stated that the Board had raised issues with the Department of Health on behalf of providers about the rigidity of the Prevent training.  They have been able to relax the delivery of the training.  The Board had built good links with NHS England with a representative of the organisation its board.

The Board is not a lobbying organisation.  Its Safeguarding Adults Case Review Sub Committee shares the lessons learnt from case reviews and   tracks changes and improvement to member agency systems and practice’.  The Board will soon be looking at the impact of financial abuse and vulnerability.

It was noted that the Board works with the Adult Social Care business intelligence to look at what patterns of referral tell us.  The care of people with Learning disabilities was being scrutinised through safeguarding. It was agreed that there was an increasing number of older people living alone who were not in contact with the statutory services facing the issues of isolation and neglect.  The Board had not yet considered this topic but is planning to theme a future meeting on self-neglect and hoarding

Councillor Lukey noted that the Safeguarding Board was putting many safeguards in place to reduce harm.  Financial abuse which is an issue many people have faced but are reluctant to report- due to the stigma attached, is on its work programme.

Councillor Perez asked how does the third sector get involved in this work particularly victims or people who have survived abuse and are more likely to approach community based services.  Also does the referral system work.  Mr Howard stated that there are 30 members on the Board with representatives from MIND and Peabody.  The Board has a community engagement sub group which was better placed to discuss issues with residents.  Councillor Fennimore noted that the Board is working closely with Violence against Women and Girls Board through the Standing Together project to ensure issues of domestic abuse and modern-day slavery are responded to or prevented.

The Committee asked for a breakdown of the statistics 2013/14 vs 2014/15 showing the pathway of safeguarding in the next report.  It was noted that the London Ambulance Service figures showed that other agencies are getting more involved in safe guarding.

Mr Howard reported that since the publication of the report some funding had been secured from the London Fire Bridge and Metropolitan Police.  The Local authorities had supplied the staffing resources.   A serious case review was joint funded from the CCG and adult social care budgets.

Moving forward, the Board was working out a plan that would help the man on the street would understand what safeguarding is. 

The Chair thanked Mr Howard and officers for a clear and concise report.

The Committee

·         Welcomed the report and noted the work the Board had undertaken over the past year

·         Acknowledged the difficult task they faced in safeguarding some of the most vulnerable members of the community

·         Invited the Board back to a future the meeting to report on its work.