Agenda item

Barnsley Safeguarding Adults Board (BSAB) Annual Report 2016-17

To consider a report of the Executive Director Core Services (Item 4a attached) in respect of BSAB Annual Report 2016-17 (Item 4b attached).

 

Minutes:

The following witnesses were welcomed to the meeting:-

 

·         Bob Dyson, Independent Chair, BSAB

·         Lennie Sahota, Service Director, Adult Assessment and Care Management, BMBC

·         Monica Green, Head of Service – Safeguarding and Quality Assurance

·         Brigid Reid, Chief Nurse, Barnsley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

·         Sarah MacGillivray, Designated Nurse for Safeguarding Adults, Barnsley CCG – Chair of the Pathways and Partnership Sub-group

·         Cath Erine, Safeguarding Adults Board Manager, BMBC

·         Chief Superintendent Scott Green, Barnsley District Commander, South

·         Yorkshire Police (SYP)

·         Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Bates, SYP

·         Michael Potter, Service Director, Organisation and Workforce Improvement, BMBC – Chair of the Performance Management Sub-Group

·         Councillor Margaret Bruff, Cabinet Spokesperson - People (Safeguarding)

 

Bob Dyson introduced a report of the Executive Director Core Services in respect of BSAB Annual Report 2016-17, outlining the work of the board and its local and regional partners for the period April 2016 to March 2017.  

 

It was highlighted that 2016/17 was a busy year for the board, with considerable work completed in support of the vision to ensure that every adult has a right to live a life free from abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination.  Barnsley has lower than average reports of abuse in people’s own homes compared with other Local Authorities of similar size, together with fewer reports of financial abuse than the regional and national average.  However, a challenge for the coming year will be to explore how adults (particularly those in their own homes) can be empowered to speak out when they are being abused, as some may not feel that they are victims.

 

Questions were asked in response to the report submitted and the following matters were highlighted:

 

·         The Quality Assurance and Performance Sub-Group had identified a number of data reporting gaps and improvements are now underwayto improve reporting arrangements.  Work is ongoing with Internal Audit to review information and a trainer for the ERICA system works with staff to improve data input.  Although data systems across partners do not ‘talk to each other’, Members were assured that all partner organisations share information face-to-face regarding individual cases.

 

·         There is a need to raise the profile of Safeguarding Adults.  A customer forum has been established and safeguarding awareness sessions are being run in various locations to raise awareness of the issues.  All partners accept third party referrals and the website, which provides information and guidance, has been improved and externally validated as ‘excellent’.

 

 

·         In terms of a communication strategy, this is shared with adults and children but each agency has responsibility for communicating to the public.  Traditional methods of communication are still needed, as not everybody has access to IT and social media and audiences must be reached by the most appropriate means.

 

 

·         Care homes are inspected by the CQC in terms of their ability to deliver high quality care and safeguarding responsibilities.   CQC encourage all care providers to share safeguarding concerns with adult social care, even if no adults were harmed.  The Adult Board has endorsed the launch.  A new guidance and concern form has been developed to support care providers to log concerns internally but not send to Adult Social Care for screening.    

 

 

·         Professional carers who visit people in their own homes are vetted but limited checks are possible when people are cared for by family members.

  

·         All Board partners have embedded the need to keep adults safe into their daily practice.  Safeguarding is everybody’s business, including communities, friends and neighbours.  Elected Members have a key role to play in raising the profile of safeguarding in their communities, sharing local intelligence and empowering individuals to raise concerns with partners.

  

RESOLVED –

  1. That the report be noted.

 

  1. That the witnesses be thanked for their attendance and contribution.

 

 

Supporting documents:

 

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