Agenda item

The Chair welcomed June Lovett from the Rotherham Safeguarding Adults Board (RSAB) and the Safeguarding Adults Board Manager.

The Care Act 2014 requires each Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) to publish an annual report as soon as is feasible after the end of each financial year. The report focusses on:

-         What the SAB has done during that year to achieve its objective;

-         What the SAB has done during that year to implement its strategy;

-         What each member has done during that year to implement the strategy;

-         The findings of the reviews arranged by it under section 44 (safeguarding adults reviews) which have concluded in that year (whether or not they began in that year).

The report introduced both the achievements of Rotherham Safeguarding Adults Board (RSAB) for 2016/17 and comments on some of the key points of inter-agency working arrangements and positive partnership.

Key priorities for 2017-18 include:

-          All organisations and the wider community work together to prevent abuse, exploitation or neglect wherever possible.

-          Where abuse does occur we will safeguard the rights of people, support the individual and reduce the risk of further abuse to them or to other vulnerable adults.

-          Where abuse does occur, enable access to appropriate services and have increased access to justice, while focussing on outcomes of people.

-          Staff in organisations across the partnership have the knowledge, skills and resources to raise standards to enable them to prevent abuse or to respond to it quickly and appropriately.

-          The whole community understands that abuse is not acceptable and that it is ‘Everybody’s business’.

Discussion ensued on the report with the following issues raised/clarified:-

Is there confidence that the RSAB is holding partner agencies to account? The peer review and audit processes had provided an opportunity to highlight good practice but also identify areas for improvement across different partner agencies. Further examples were asked about how this could be evidenced; the Safeguarding Adults Board Manager gave details of working with the police about referral processes to make ‘safeguarding personal’.

Clarification was sought to establish how the customer voice is captured? There have been two Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) and both are completed and available on the RSAB’s website. There have been regional safeguarding events which have focused on learning. The RSAB is working with Healthwatch to support customers to attend the Board should there be issues they wish to raise. The Independent Chair and Safeguarding Adults Board Manager were also willing to attend groups to discuss safeguarding as appropriate. Further work has been undertaken to develop a performance ‘dashboard’. The service had also chosen a number of cases at random which had been considered by the RSAB, and had spoken to the customer or families about the processes. It was clear that further improvements should be made to communications to raise awareness of reporting routes.

A further explanation of the term ‘zero tolerance’ was requested and how this was applied to safeguarding issues. The term is commonly used and signals the agency’s commitment to prevention and taking action should safeguarding issues be raised.

What were outcomes from the two SARs and how has the learning been fed into practice? The action plans arising from the reviews are monitored by the Performance Sub-Group

Clarification was sought on partner engagement and attendance at meetings? It was outlined that some partners have a regional or sub-regional spread and therefore did not have the capacity to attend each local SAB. However, each receive papers and action points and are involved in relevant sub-groups. The Independent Chair has approached voluntary sector partners to explore non-attendance and how this can be improved. Details were also given of information sharing through the voluntary sector newsletter.

What has been the learning from the dementia care initiatives? There are lead nurses for dementia care and learning disabilities; systems are improved to ensure that patients with conditions are flagged to ensure that their needs are met and the ward environment is appropriate. Further details were given on dementia screening and the dementia care pathways.

Further questions were asked of the case-study in the respect of financial abuse and if any work was undertaken with the perpetrator to ensure that other people are not at risk of financial exploitation. It was acknowledged that this was an area of work requiring further exploration. It was suggested that the Commission factors this into its work programme to establish how the respective safeguarding boards work with the Safer Rotherham Partnership to prevent repeat victimisation by perpetrators.

Following last year’s consideration of the RSAB annual report, concerns were raised about the quality and timeliness of performance information presented to the Board. The Board Member assured the Committee that the issues raised were being addressed and each partner agency was fulfilling their obligations in this area.

Further details were asked about impact of the training package delivered by the Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates? No details were available but the Chair committed to pursue this as part of the Commission’s work programme.

How is information and support shared with communities who did not have English as a first language? In the first instance, awareness raising through posters and leaflets had been produced in English, however it was recognised that this would be an area of development.

Clarification was sought on the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) and the effects of the change in legislation. There has been a quality assurance review which identified areas of improvements and changes in processes. However there are challenges because of the rise in number of applications and the capacity of staff to undertake the assessment. There is a specific sub-group to oversee how agencies respond to DOLS.

In respect of the domestic abuse case study, clarification was sought to establish if the level of support was typical in cases which did not involve children? The Safeguarding Adults Board Manager was unable to comment on whether this was a ‘typical’ case as each case would be unique.

How does the delays in re-assessment in care packages may have impacted on adult safeguarding? One of the learning reviews would examine backlogs in assessment and where improvements can be made to processes.

Clarification was sought on whether there was any collation and analysis of data in respect of repeat Section 42 referrals. This is on the Performance and Quality work plan and resources have been allocated to examine data in greater depth.

How is increased mortality for people with learning disabilities monitored locally? Working closely with the CCG and NHS England, deaths of learning disabled people are reported and processes are embedding.

The Chair thanked Ms Lovett and Safeguarding Board Manager for their attendance and contribution to the meeting.

Resolved:

1)    That the Improving Lives Select Commission receive the RSAB Annual Report 2016-17;

2)    That in the presentation of the RSAB Annual Report 2017-18:

-        details are provided to evidence how the customer voice is heard;

-        data is provided in respect of repeat Section 42 referrals and how this is being addressed;

       3)  That a meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission is scheduled as part of its 2018-19 work programme to establish how the respective safeguarding boards work with the Safer Rotherham Partnership to prevent repeat victimisation by perpetrators.