Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

There were no items that required the exclusion of the public or press.

To receive questions relating to items of business on the agenda from members of the public or press who are present at the meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public or press.

The Strategic Director - Adult Care, Housing and Public Health and the Assistant Director - Adult Care and Integration attended the meeting to provide a report and make a presentation on the provision of Adult Safeguarding activity in Rotherham.

In introducing the presentation, the Strategic Director - Adult Care, Housing and Public Health advised that the presentation would provide an overview on the role of Adult Care in delivering positive Adult Safeguarding protection and prevention activities.

The Assistant Director - Adult Care and Integration delivered a presentation that provided information on:

·       the definition of Safeguarding and how this related to the Care Act 2014.

·       the objectives of Adult Safeguarding activity.

·       the duties and responsibilities placed on Local Authorities with regard to Adult Safeguarding by the Care Act 2014.

·       the statutory criteria that needed to be met for a “section 42” enquiry to be made under the Care Act 2014.

·       the provision of non-statutory safeguarding enquires where the requirements under section 42 of the Care Act 2014 had not been met.

·       how the Council worked with partners in the delivery of its adult safeguarding functions.

·       the different types of Adult Abuse that may be part of safeguarding enquiry.

·       how safeguarding activity was made personal to each individual’s needs.

·       the current Adult Safeguarding caseload being managed in Rotherham.

·       other key pieces of legislation relevant to the delivery of effective Adult Safeguarding.

·       the different pathways that a safeguarding enquiry could follow in the delivery of services and support.

·       the role of the Rotherham Adult Safeguarding Board (RSAB).

Members asked for further information on how effective the services delivered at Rotherham were, how services delivered compared to those delivered by other local authorities and how services were inspected. The Assistant Director noted that all local authorities recorded information relating to Adult Safeguarding slightly differently, and as such benchmarking performance against other authorities was not always straightforward. The Assistant Director advised that the Association of

Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) carried out benchmarking activity across the region and that this activity would highlight any areas of activity that required attention at Rotherham.

The Assistant Director advised that the most important measure of performance was in ensuring that each individual involved in a safeguarding enquiry reached an outcome that they felt was right for them. The Assistant Director noted that over 90% of individuals advised that they felt satisfied with the ultimate outcome of the safeguarding enquiry that had been carried out for them. 

The Strategic Director noted that unlike Children’s Services, Adult Care Services were not currently subject to formal inspections but advised that more formal inspections were planned to be introduced in the future, with Adult Safeguarding provision being part of these inspections. The Strategic Director advised that ADASS did conduct sector led reviews that were similar in scope and approach to peer reviews, that provided opportunities for learning and reflection. The Strategic Director advised however that due to the subjectivity of what success was with regarding to an Adult Safeguarding enquiry, measuring  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To consider any item(s) the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business.

The next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission take place on Tuesday 26 October commencing at 10am in Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved: - That the next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission take place on Tuesday 26 October 2021 at 10am at Rotherham Town Hall.