Witnesses:
Simon Turpitt,Independent Chair, Surrey Safeguarding
Adults Board
Amanda Boodhoo,Surrey Wide CCG
Deputy Director Safeguarding
Sonya Sellar, Area Director
Clare Curran, Cabinet Member for Children and Families
Wellbeing
Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and
Independence
Declarations of interests:
None
Key
points of discussion:
-
The Independent Chair of the
Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) gave an overview of the
annual report to the Board, explaining to the Board that the report
was historic for the year 2015/16, rather than a state of current
affairs. He highlighted in this overview that there was a smooth
implementation of the Care Act 2014 over the time period
highlighted in the report and that there had been significant
improvements to the SSAB’s multi-agency links.
-
The Independent Chair highlighted several key areas
of risk, noting that neglect was listed as the most frequent risk
category. It was also noted that self-neglect and financial abuse
had been highlighted as areas of concern for the SSAB, but that
they were working closely with partners to help resolve these
issue. The Independent Chair also highlighted that evidence of
physical abuse had reduced by 2%, and hat the SSAB were finding new
ways of working with partners to further reduce this.
-
The Independent Chair assured the Board that there
had been no Serious Case Reviews undertaken since January
2016.
-
The Independent Chair highlighted that the SSAB had
implemented new processes in order to improve outcomes, pointing
out that there was multi-agency training in place. However, it was
noted that the benefit of this was difficult to quantify as a
result of its preventative nature.
-
The Independent Chair highlighted several key
projects undertaken by the SSAB which had improved safeguarding
awareness; citing examples of advertisements for the SSAB in Surrey
and a greater representation on local groups. It was also noted
that the SSAB had improved its ways of working, highlighting that
there was a new and improved systems database in place to improve
performance monitoring, which included an improved data model. It
was also noted that the SSAB was fully staffed.
-
The Independent Chair specified three key priorities
for the SSAB to maintain quality of service and achieve
improvements:
-
Improved training methods
-
Improving visibility with partners and
residents
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Increasing and strengthening ties with partner
organisations
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The Independent Chair expressed the need to improve
links with General Practitioners (GPs) as a means of improving the
safeguarding process. Members questioned why links with GPs were
poor and what could be undertaken by the SSAB and Clinical
Commissioning Groupss (CCGs) to rectify
this issue. The Surrey Wide CCG Deputy
Director Safeguarding highlighted that CCGs were working to improve
these links, noting that an appointed safeguarding GP was being
introduced and that training for GPs regarding safeguarding would
be implemented. Members asked if progress regarding this and
possible scrutiny of implementation could be brought to the Health
and Wellbeing Board.
-
The Surrey Wide CCG Deputy Director of Safeguarding
noted that the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) had moved into
an integrated adults and children’s safeguarding team,
highlighting that they were in a good position to provide support
to the SSAB.
-
The Board and the Cabinet Member for Adult Social
Care, Wellbeing and Independence noted that they would prefer to
receive a version of the SSAB Annual Report earlier in the year, so
as to provide more effective input. The Independent Chair gave
assurance that, while datasets were unavailable any earlier, the
SSAB could provide an interim report to Members for analysis in
future.
-
The Independent Chair and officers gave assurances
to questions raised by Members that all of those at risks as a
result of mental health issues would be fully assessed according to
individual need.
Marisa Heath left the meeting at 12.30pm
-
Members questioned the possibility of closer bonds
and improved ways of working with the Surrey Safeguarding
Children’s Board (SSCB) and the SSAB. The Independent Chair
noted that the two organisations shared information and expertise
and were looking into new ways of implementing joined up working in
future.
Marisa Heath re-joined the meeting at 12.45pm
-
The Board questioned the transition period between
children and adults, and whether there were good links between the
two boards and partners to minimise risk during this transition.
The Independent Chair stressed that there was scope for
improvement, particularly with relation to improving dialogue links
with partners.
-
Members expressed appreciation for the clarity of
the annual report and recommended that future reports deliver a
similar clear message.
Recommendations:
The Board thanks the
independent Chair and partner agencies for the report. It
recommends:
-
That a short briefing covering how agencies have
worked to respond to the rising instances of self-neglect being
reported is circulated to the Board;
-
That, in the new council year, the scrutiny Board
looks to support ASC through adopting a similar performance
scorecard monitoring arrangement to that it currently has in place
for Children Services;
-
That officers work with the Safeguarding Board to
explore how a more timely update is brought to the Scrutiny Board;
and
-
That the Health and Wellbeing Board explore options
to identify a named GP for Safeguarding Adults.