Agenda item

To consider a report of the Executive Director Core Services (Item 5a attached) in respect of BSAB’s Annual Report (Item 5b attached).

The following witnesses were welcomed to the meeting: 

·         Bob Dyson, Independent Chair, BSAB

·         Lennie Sahota, Service Director, Adult Social Care & Health, BMBC

·         Stephanie Evans, Interim Head of Service, Safeguarding & Quality Assurance, BMBC

·         Adrian Hobson, Senior Contracts & Compliance Manager, BMBC

·         Cath Erine, Barnsley Safeguarding Adults Board Manager, BMBC

·         Cllr Nicola Sumner, Cabinet Support Member – Adults & Communities

·         Deborah Longmore, Safeguarding Adults Lead, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (BHNFT)

·         Emma Cox, Assistant Director of Nursing, Quality & Professions, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SWYPFT)

·         Jo Harrison, Nurse Quality Manager-Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS), Barnsley CCG

·         Detective (DCI) Chief Inspector Paul Murphy, South Yorkshire Police (SYP)

·         Representative from the Safeguarding Adults Forum by Experience (SAFE) Customer Group

Bob Dyson introduced the report, outlining the work of the Board and its local and regional partners over the last 12 months, emphasising the strong commitment to Safeguarding from all agencies as evidenced within the report. 

In the ensuing discussion, and in response to detailed questioning and challenge the following matters were highlighted:

The Board now has a sub-committee that leads on ‘Learning and Development’ with a close oversight of the training and development opportunities available to staff and volunteers along with identifying, and filling, gaps in provision.  It is important to recognise that some agencies have their own in-house trainers as well as engaging with multi-agency training.  ELearning packages are also available free of charge to everyone, including members of the public.

Although the number of financial abuse cases appears to have fallen significantly, this may be due to under-reporting coupled with a reluctance to report possible abuse by family members.  There is an on-going need to raise the profile of this unseen abuse.

There is also a need to make sure all partners are aware of the risk of fire and make referrals to South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue (SYFR), who have attended a sub-group meeting to deliver a mini training session.  The majority of partners are now signed up to the scheme and are making referrals.

The new Barnsley Adult Care Provision Quality Board (BACPQB) will work with privately owned homes with a view to putting measures in place to work alongside partners to drive up quality.  Contract officers will be visiting homes on a regular basis to make sure the quality of service is in line with the agreed specification and offering support to bridge any gaps, with regular reports to the Board whilst being mindful that negative reports can impact on businesses and residents within care homes.

A number of vulnerable adult case studies were outlined which were resolved by agencies working together effectively.  Types of issues addressed included physical abuse, fraud, criminal activity and ‘cuckooing’, whereby vulnerable adults are targeted and befriended by another and involved in organised crime. 

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw are currently developing an integrated care system and are looking at collaborative working in some areas and functions.  Although this is a time of change, Members were reassured that this is not a merger between Barnsley and Sheffield CCGs and there would be no adverse effect on vulnerable people in Barnsley as resources would not be concentrated on Sheffield at the detriment of Barnsley. 

Members expressed concern that the number of nursing beds in care homes was diminishing and that patients discharged from hospital may not be adequately monitored – for example, monitoring of bed sores.  It was stated that monitoring of skin integrity and other nursing care needs are taken account of when assessing clients.  Individuals are free to choose the care home they wish to live in, but there must be a nurse on site for nursing care.  All placements are reviewed within 6 weeks and at least annually thereafter to ensure needs are being met appropriately.  There are no incidences of ‘bed blocking’ in Barnsley despite the reduction in beds.   

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the registration and inspection authority which oversees the quality of provision.  Recruitment and retention of staff is a key challenge within the care sector with providers often competing with the retail sector for staff due to the low wages paid.  It is not possible to dictate to providers what they should be paying staff, or the terms and conditions etc. 

In the past, care homes have tended to over-report safeguarding cases but following new guidance and training are now only referring when necessary as some issues can be dealt with internally and are not appropriate for a safeguarding referral.  It should also be remembered that vulnerable people living in their own homes may be subject to abuse, particularly financial and ‘cuckooing’.  Support to victims of this type of abuse depends on their willingness to engage and whether or not they have mental capacity.  The SAFE group is working hard to raise awareness of abuse and is a very important forum for this work.

RESOLVED that:

(i)            Members note the update and

(ii)          Witnesses be thanked for their attendance and contribution