Meeting documents

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 The health and social care commissioning and delivery arm functions of the PCT and Council are integrated through joint working arrangements. These arrangements do not change the duties of the separate statutory organisations, and both still therefore need to articulate how they will fulfil their responsibilities. The attached scheme describes the way in which this duty will be undertaken by the Council.

1.2 The PCT Board has adopted a safeguarding scheme that meets its needs at its public board meeting on April 9^th 2009. The Partnership Board considered both the attached Council scheme and the PCT scheme at its meeting on 15^th April 2009 where it determined to ask the Cabinet to consider and approve the Council scheme for safeguarding adults. For the purposes of operational clarity within the Partnership, the schemes will be incorporated into an integrated operational framework.

1.3 The effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements within the Adult Partnership, including the attached scheme, has been reviewed by an external expert commissioned by the Council Chief Executive. The following is the summary assessment contained within his report:

"Despite the planned changes in B&NES, the responsibility to investigate and protect vulnerable people remains unchanged; the task is to ensure that the new partnership delivery its responsibilities effectively within a complex structure with new accountabilities. It is clear that critical safeguarding issues have been anticipated and are taken account of within the agencies' plans and organisational arrangements. At the same time the new partnership gives more weight to raising the profile of safeguarding in areas where it was not fully recognised and this is a definite opportunity. Critical areas of risk have been anticipated by both organisations;" [Rob Cowen]

1.4 The external review includes a number of recommendations relating to the operational arrangements for safeguarding for which an action plan is being developed and will be overseen by the Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board. There was nothing in the recommendations that required the overarching Scheme that is attached to be amended and it is therefore presented for formal adoption by the Cabinet.

2 RECOMMENDATION

The Cabinet agrees that:

2.1 The Adult Safeguarding Scheme be formally adopted as Council policy.

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 The adoption of the adult safeguarding scheme has no new financial implications that are not already covered within approved budget.

4 CORPORATE PRIORITIES

The attached scheme will ensure the safety of vulnerable adults within the care of the Council and will contribute to the following Council priorities:

• Building communities where people feel safe and secure
  
• Promoting the independence of older people

5 THE REPORT

5.1 The attached scheme is presented for adoption by the Council

6 RISK MANAGEMENT

6.1 The report author and Lead Cabinet member have fully reviewed the risk assessment related to the issue and recommendations, in compliance with the Council's decision making risk management guidance.

6.2 Safeguarding remains a critical function for the Council. Policy, procedural and practice risks are kept under regular review as part of the Partnership's risk management arrangements. The possibility that changes resulting from the integration of health and social care might increase risk was identified within the Integration Project; this has informed both the creation of the attached scheme and the wish to have external validation. The arrangements described in the attached paper are intended to mitigate risks to individuals and to the organisation. The external validation confirms that the scheme is appropriate and both identifies and responds to the critical safeguarding issues.

7 EQUALITIES

7.1 An equality impact assessment has not been carried out on the attached scheme, which is specifically targeted at those who are most disadvantaged in our community.

8 RATIONALE

8.1 The Adult Safeguarding Scheme has been presented to and approved by the Health and Well Being Partnership Board. It has also been externally validated by an independent consultant to ensure that it meets the Council's needs. On this basis it is presented for adoption to the Cabinet.

9 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

9.1 The Scheme has been developed through an iterative process and reflects the comments and recommendations of the Partnership Board, the DASS and the external reviewer.

10 CONSULTATION

10.1 The Scheme has been developed through an iterative process with colleagues within the integrated health and well being partnership, and reflects the comments and recommendations of the Partnership Board and Board of NHS B&NES.

11 ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN REACHING THE DECISION

11.1 The Council has a statutory duty with regard to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults.

12 ADVICE SOUGHT

12.1 The Council's Section 151 Officer (Strategic Director - Support Services) have had the opportunity to input to this report and have cleared it for publication.