Agenda item

The Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) is a statutory multi-agency Board with responsibilities set out in the Care Act 2014. The Board is chaired by an Independent Chair, Simon Turpitt. There is a statutory duty for the Safeguarding Adult’s Board to publish an Annual Report and disseminate to various parties, of which the Health and Wellbeing Board is one.

Witnesses:

Mrs Sinead Mooney - Cabinet Member for Adults and Health (SCC)

Simon Turpitt - Independent Chair, Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board

Key points raised in the discussion:

1.    The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health (SCC) explained that the Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) was a statutory multi-agency board with responsibilities set out in the Care Act 2014.

2.    The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health (SCC) commended the SSAB for their work over the last year noting the improved format and presentation of the data gathered from key partners, acknowledging that it had been a busy year for the SSAB dominated in final months by Covid-19. The report highlighted the responsiveness of agencies in Surrey to keep safeguarding adults in the forefront of the work done in the county and she would continue to work closely with the SSAB to ensure improved safeguarding responses.

3.    The SSAB Independent Chair noted that the annual report was a review of 2019/20 before Covid-19 and its significant impacts. He highlighted the continual increase in safeguarding referrals and a significant increase in Section 42 reports over the last year.

4.    The SSAB Independent Chair highlighted that although referrals and Section 42 reports decreased due to Covid-19, they had since increased which showed that firstly, understanding of the need for safeguarding was continually improving and agencies were more responsive to that; and secondly, there were more vulnerable individuals out there and people under more pressure as demonstrated by the rise in domestic abuse referrals, scams and an increase in deaths due to Covid-19 in vulnerable individuals with care and support needs.

5.    The SSAB Independent Chair noted that having heard the earlier discussions, he noted that it was vital for the SSAB to be more closely aligned with the Health and Wellbeing Board more so than presenting an annual report. The CIA and the Surrey Mental Health Summit 2020 highlighted that linkages needed between partners needed to be strengthened and suggested an informal session next year to further explore critical data sources and better processes to reduce the number of people requiring safeguarding.

6.    The SSAB Independent Chair thanked all partners and organisations that supported the SSAB, noting improved partnership working over the last year including with the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) and that awareness needed to be raised on what safeguarding adults was as opposed to the safeguarding children model.

7.    The SSAB Independent Chair noted the format of the annual report was made simpler to read and sought feedback on areas missing or which needed to be improved. He stressed that safeguarding was a concern for all and welcomed further Board collaboration to ensure it remained a priority for the Board.

8.    A Board member noted that although there had been an increase in the number of cases reported, at the same time there had been a drop in the percentage reported by families and asked for an explanation on the importance of increasing knowledge and awareness amongst families of the reporting process. Particularly as the work of Healthwatch Surrey highlighted that there was a low level of awareness of the process of safeguarding and who to contact.

-       In response, the SSAB Independent Chair noted that Healthwatch Surrey’s report showed that safeguarding was not understood clearly understood by the general public and the SSAB took action by looking at ways to better communicate with families such as leaving information in care homes, publicising National Safeguarding Adults Week 2020 a few weeks ago and working closely with the SSCP on joint initiatives to provide people with a greater understanding of safeguarding and the differences between adult and children safeguarding.

9.    A Board member asked whether there was a breakdown between care homes and domiciliary care concerning the number of safeguarding enquiries related to neglect. In response, the SSAB Independent Chair noted that the data would be broken down into those areas as Covid-19 posed enormous pressures and risks exacerbating issues such as loneliness and safeguarding; it was noted that the Executive Director of Adult Social Care (SCC) would provide that breakdown. 

RESOLVED:

1.      That the Health and Wellbeing Board considered and noted the Surrey Safeguarding Adults Annual Report for 2019/2020.

2.      Considered the Safeguarding Adults Annual Report in relation to the Health and Wellbeing Board strategic priorities.

Actions/further information to be provided:

1.      The Board will ensure that it is more closely aligned with the SSAB going forward in order to ensure that safeguarding remained a priority; and will look at a possible informal session next year to further explore critical data sources and better processes to reduce the number of people requiring safeguarding.

2.      The Executive Director of Adult Social Care (SCC) will provide the breakdown in relation to care homes and domiciliary care concerning the number of safeguarding enquiries related to neglect.