Issue - meetings

To consider the Annual Report and Business Plan of the Local Safeguarding Adults Board.

The Board considered the Annual Report and Business Plan of the Local Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB).  The report outlined the work of the Board during 2015-16 and analysed safeguarding case activity.

It was noted that there was now a joint training and development group and that a good deal of collaborative work was being undertaken between the adult and children safeguarding groups.

Self-neglect was now included within the safeguarding arena as a new category of abuse type.

This year there had been the highest ever number of safeguarding concerns received.  The 1,137 concerns represented an increase of 53% when compared with 2014/15.  A total of 422 concerns had moved into a Safeguarding Enquiry during 2015/16, this represented 37% of the concerns raised.  It was noted that service users could choose not to go through safeguarding procedures and 4% of referrals ceased investigation at the person’s request.  In 7% of cases no action was taken.

Bruce Laurence queried whether there should be disaggregation to identify service users over the age of 85 rather than simply over 65s.  Officers confirmed that the categories used were national reporting figures but agreed to consider this suggestion.

The numbers of safeguarding referrals had increased between 2005 and 2014 and it was noted that this impact on service delivery was likely to be linked to work carried out to raise awareness of safeguarding issues and reporting methods.  Ashley Ayre pointed out that adult social care has been an emerging area of work and that improved awareness and an increase in the number of people being categorised as vulnerable were factors.

The Health and Wellbeing Board thanked the team for all the work they had carried out on adult safeguarding.

RESOLVED:  To note the Local Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report, Executive Summary and Business Plan.

The Local Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2015-16 highlights the work of the Board during the period and provides information and analysis of safeguarding case activity for the Health and Wellbeing Select Committee to note.

The Head of Safeguarding & Quality Assurance introduced this item to the Select Committee. She informed them that the Board meets on a quarterly basis and has six multi-agency sub-groups that report to it.

She stated the Board works closely with the Responsible Authorities Group who have a remit for all domestic abuse incidents and the LSCB who are concerned about the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people.

She said that during the reporting period 2015-16 B&NES received 1,137 new alerts /referrals (now called concerns). At the end of March 2016, 162 cases remained open and 1,104 had been closed. The 1,137 concerns received was an increase of 53% when compared with 2014-15.

She said that it was important to make care personal, but that providing a personal solution sometimes meant that we were unable to meet our set timescales.

The Select Committee RESOLVED to note the Annual Report, Executive Summary and Business Plan.