Agenda item

The Independent Chair, Leicester Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB) submits the LSAB’s Annual Report 2018/19. Members are asked to note and comment on the report as they see fit.

Fran Pearson, the Independent Chair from Leicester Safeguarding Adults Board was at the meeting to present the report to the Scrutiny Commission.

The following points referenced in the report were brought to the attention of the Commission:

·                     Credit was given to the partnership working around the city.

·                     The Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service Board member had initiated fire safety training for vulnerable adults.

·                     There was interest in finding out in more detail some of the related work around adults at risk when released from prison.

·                     For noting there had been some slight stalling around engagement work, but there was now an Engagement Officer in post.

·                     There was potential to do increasing amounts of joined up and shared thinking around young adult transitioning from children’s safeguarding.

In response to Members’ questions, the following was noted:

·                     Referral rates were referenced in the report. Officers would explore the possibility of breaking down referral data by ward and circulate to Members.

·                     Nationally the Office of Public Guardian was keen to engage with the adult safeguarding boards. It was early days but good relationships were being developed nationally.

·                     Mental capacity across the partnership work would include training with providers. Trends measured over the years largely did not see substantial changes, and patterns were stable over time.

·                     The report would be enhanced in future years to include data, and work with the Engagement Officer to include personal stories.

·                     In terms of BAME communities and the reporting rate, it related to the engagement work. There had been a hiatus with capacity but was now picking up, with work around public material, how to frame language and conversations, explore cultural issues. Data had not shifted and continued to be a priority for the board.

·                     With regards to thresholds, it was for professionals to decide on how to respond to an alert. Officers did not want to make the process too bureaucratic and members of the public making alerts should not need to be concerned about thresholds.

·                     Under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014, it was reported that in 8% of cases risk remained. It was reported there was a process (Vulnerable Adults Risk Management Programme) where round table discussions would take place about the vulnerable adult, to ensure that if risk was escalating it would be picked up by the necessary support. For each S42 enquiry officers would work to form a plan which would have a timeframe determined by the nature of the circumstances of the individual, and a review timeframe would not be fixed.

·                     It was queried how many people with dementia were included in data for those over the age of 75 years. Officers would extract the data to circulate to Members.

·                     It was observed that children’s and adult’s support worked well together, and there were plans to take it a stage further over the coming months.

·                     Arrangements for the Children’s Safeguarding Board now required them to have a partnership with joint responsibilities of health, the police and local authority, and to be aligned as closely as possible with the county.

·                     Members asked how well participation of emergency service board members was during meetings. It was stated there was very noticeable engagement from the fire service who talked with real authority about involvement and initiatives they were supporting.

·                     The Ambassadors Network Coordinator role included support to peers to do their work, and to develop a network of safeguarding ambassadors.

·                     Final outcomes of task and finish group work on safeguarding transitions for adults to be shared with the commission when available. It was explained the legal framework was different when and individual turned 18. People may no longer be vulnerable but still required support, and guidance would be based on feedback from staff.

Councillor Russell, Deputy City Mayor, Social Care and Anti-Poverty explained that having the Safeguarding Board ensured all support agencies were around the table, so the right people could ask the right questions at the right time.

The Chair thanked the Independent Chair and officers for the report.

AGREED:

that:

1.    The report be noted.

2.    Breakdown of referrals data by ward be circulated to Commission Members.

3.    Data on referrals and those at risk over the age of 75 years and with dementia be circulated to Commission Members.

4.    Greater consideration be given to inclusion of outcomes and data in future reports

5.    Final outcomes of task and finish group work on safeguarding transitions for adult to be shared with the Commission when available.