Agenda item

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

The Select Committee had previously questioned the differences in reporting around adult safeguarding as part of consideration of quarterly performance data. They now received details on adult safeguarding referrals and the work of the Adult Safeguarding Service.

The Care Act 2014 set out the legal framework for how Local Authorities and other public bodies should protect adults at risk of abuse or neglect, with duties placed on the Council under Section 42. The Staffordshire Adult Safeguarding Service discharged these duties on the Council’s behalf. The Service was comprised of two teams, the Staffordshire Adult Safeguarding Team (SAST) and the Adult Safeguarding Enquiry Team (ASET).

The number of safeguarding referrals was rising, with between 1000-1200 per month this year. The rise in demand had been reviewed but had not identified any particular pattern or reasons. As it was unlikely that the demand would reduce, system and process changes were planned to reduce the amount of time taken to process referrals and accommodate additional numbers within the staffing available.

Every referral was reviewed by a qualified practitioner on the day it was received, with any immediate risks identified and an appropriate response initiated. Referrals were categorised and prioritised according to risk, with referrals usually completed within four weeks, although those requiring a Section 42 enquiry should be completed within two weeks or three days for high risk cases. Members noted that currently 15% of safeguarding referrals resulted in a Safeguarding Plan and queried whether the referrals were being dealt with appropriately if only 15% required a Plan. There was some general lack of understanding around when a plan was required, however when used correctly it was a helpful tool in monitoring and reviewing ongoing risk. The volume of referrals was an issue and there was a need to direct queries more appropriately earlier on in the process, identifying whether they were a quality or safeguarding issue. Changes to the IT system were being developed to help with this, as well as education with, for example, residential care home staff, to identify whether a concern was around quality or safeguarding issues.

Members noted the increase in referrals and that the reasons behind this could not be identified. On average there were 100 additional referrals per month, with occasional spikes due to specific issues, such as press coverage around Walton Hall.  Staffordshire University students had been asked to research this increase to help identify causes. In general, there was a much better understanding of what adult safeguarding was, with the Care Act having given the legal footing. There was a greater awareness of potential risk, for example young people leaving the care system at 18 were at higher risk of exploitation and therefore there was a need to work better with partners on preventative measure to reduce risks. This included work around preparation for adulthood which looked at young people from 14 years of age and how to help them become more resilient, with a protocol on preparation for adulthood now being implemented.

The Select Committee noted differences in the way Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent local authorities recorded decisions not to proceed to a full Section 42 enquiry. This difference in recording was replicated throughout the country with a wide variation in conversion rates for Section 42 enquiries between 12% and 69%. Both Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent had been involved in work with the Local Government Association around reducing this variance. Following a series of workshops around the country a new set of guidelines had been developed, although these were still not definitive.

An example was shared with Members around tariffs against property as a result of a free Will. Whilst this was not illegal, it was sharp practice and an area of concern from a safeguarding point of view. Members felt there was a need to lobby Central Government on this issue.

RESOLVED  - That:

a)    the report be received;

b)    the Select Committee be kept informed of developments in the referral and recording systems for adult safeguarding, and the work around consistency of Section 42 recording across authorities;

c)    a report be brought to the Select Committee in 12 months evaluating the preparation for adulthood work and implementation of the Protocol;

d)    Officers be congratulated on the dedicated and professional work they do and their evident passion and commitment to adult safeguarding.