Agenda item

Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board - Annual Report and Progress Update

To consider a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support introducing the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board 2017/18 Annual Report and a progress update for 2018/19.

 

 

Minutes:

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report that introduced the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB) 2017/18 Annual Report and a progress update for 2018/19.

 

The following was appended to the report:

 

-  LSAB Progress Report (April 2019)

-  LSAB Annual Report 2017/18

-  LSAB Strategic Plan 2018/19

-  LSAB Executive Board Report (February 2019)

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Richard Jones, Independent Chair, Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board

-  Shona McFarLane, Deputy Director, Social Work & Social Care Service, Adults and Health

 

The Independent Chair introduced the report, setting out the future priorities and objectives of the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

 

·  Leeds and York Partnership Foundation NHS Trust (LYPFT) Data Collection System. Members queried whether it was acceptable that LYPFT did not have systems in place whereby safeguarding information can include a breakdown by ethnicity, and the limitations this is likely to have on understanding matters impacting on specific communities. The Board heard that one of the LSAB’s key priorities for future work was engagement with BME communities, and accepted that improved data collection will form part of that work.

·  Executive powers. Members were concerned that the LSAB did not hold any executive powers to exercise in response to concerns about any of the partnership organisations. The Board was informed that the partnership model of the LSAB was intended to enable partners to hold one another to account, as they have a shared set of objectives and intent.

·  Referrals progressing to Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs). Members sought clarity regarding the lack of SARs during the reporting period, despite the high volume of referrals made during that time. Members heard that following support received through initial intervention, most clients subsequently report they feel safe and a review is not required.

·  Prosecution. In response to queries, Members were informed that following referrals to the police, there was some inconsistency in the level of information Social Care teams are provided with regarding the progress of criminal investigations. While there was no evidence of harm arising from any communication issues, Members highlighted the need for greater consistency in information sharing between agencies represented through the partnership. .

·  Evidence within the report. Members commented that the report was lacking in detail, and specifically noted that the report did not include any statistics or other data which limited the reader’s understanding of the context.

·  Assurance processes. Members sought clarity around the LSAB’s process for seeking assurance from the partnership organisations, particularly in relation to the support and training provided to frontline staff. Members were informed that the LSAB review assurances carried out by partner organisations.

·  Links to third sector. Members commented that many vulnerable adults do not access to mainstream services, and requested more information around the LSABs approach to engaging with the charitable organisations and community groups. The Scrutiny Board was informed that LSAB worked directly with Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) and Advonet, and intended to bring feedback on this area of work to the LSAB in the future.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(a)  That the Independent Chair of the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board be thanked for his attendance and contribution to the discussion.

(b)  That the contents of the report and the appendices presented to the Scrutiny Board be noted.

(c)  That the Chair write to the Independent Chair of the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board, summarising the outcome of the Scrutiny Board’s discussion and any requests for further information and/or future reports.

 

Councillor M Iqbal arrived at 1:40pm during discussion of this item.

 

 

Supporting documents: