Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing

[John Wood, SSASPB Independent Chairman, and Helen Jones, Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board Manager, in attendance for this item.]

 Members heard that there had been 3711 concerns reported where adults with care and support needs might have been at risk or were experiencing abuse or neglect. This was a decrease of 1197 (24%) compared to 2017/18 and coincided with a change in the way data was captured. This change in recording practice meant that only reports meeting the threshold for a Section 42 enquiry were recorded as a safeguarding concern. Following an initial assessment, it had been determined that the duty of enquiry requirement had been met in 90% of concerns.

Members queried whether officers were confident that the 24% reduction in reported concerns was appropriate data management and that no vulnerable individual was being missed as a result of the reduction. Individuals were not being missed, rather the new approach allowed the system to be streamlined, with more accurate recording of those that needed Section 42 enquiry. Changes to the way in which the IT system was used helped to capture information more appropriately.

Of those subject to a Section 42 enquiry, individuals aged between 75-84 and 85-94 represented the largest cohort (both 26%), followed by 64-74 (14%) and then 50-64 (12%). This reflected figures from last year. Neglect and acts of omission, physical harm or financial abuse continued to be the most frequent types of harm or abuse identified for Section 42 enquiries, accounting for 75% of all harm and/or abuse recorded. The proportion of people subject of a Section 42 enquiry whose outcome was fully met decreased from 85% to 80% this year. When outcomes were combined for those fully or partially met the figure increased to 97%.

Members heard that the Safeguarding Board relied on protected time for safeguarding staff to enable their work to be done. They reflected on the resource implications within the MTFS and noted that as far as possible safeguarding was protected. Members also heard that the report had been enriched by the feedback given by the Select Committee.

Reducing financial and material abuse was one of the Board’s strategic priorities and Members heard specific examples of where call blockers had been used successfully. Advice on the availability of call blockers would be included on the Board’s website, supporting rather than endorsing products.

The Select Committee noted the “lessons learnt” identified within the report and asked how the Board made sure this learning was implemented and reviewed. Members were reassured to hear that until the Board were content that all identified areas for improvement  and lessons learnt had been implemented, the case remained under review by the Board. Discussions were taking place to establish best practice for reporting this information to capture the results of this safeguarding work and evaluate the outcomes. Workshop sessions had been held across the county last year looking at the results of reviews, taking time to reflect on issues identified and how to move forward.

Members were reassured to hear that until the Board were content that all identified areas for improvement and lessons learnt had been implemented the case would not be closed and would remain under review by the Board.

Difficulties with engaging communities was discussed, with Members sharing their experiences. Persistence and the importance of finding common ground was highlighted in helping with engaging hard to reach groups and communities.

Members noted the Board’s role was to assure itself that safeguarding partners acted to protect adults who:

·         had needs for care and support;

·         were experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect; and

·         as a result of those care and support needs were unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.

These three points defined who and how safeguarding work was undertaken.

Members noted the continued difficulties with Care Director and understood that work was underway, influenced by practitioners, to develop this package in a way that helped address some of the concerns.

The Select Committee thanked all Officers and the Independent Chair for the report, for the excellent work they did and their commitment to safeguarding.

RESOLVED – That the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board Annual Report from April 2018 to March 2019 be noted.