Issue - meetings

To consider an independent annual update on Adult Safeguarding.

The Director of Adults Health and Care, interim chair of the Hampshire Safeguarding Adults Board, provided an annual update for the 2018-19 business year.  

Members heard:

The report sets out details regarding delivery against the necessary elements.  

An independent scrutiny function is being put in to oversee and challenge the work undertaken by the board which will address the concerns noted by one of the deputations.  The Board is keen to take this action and this independent scrutiny function will add another level of audit to the process.

Lower numbers of referrals are being maintained, but there has been a higher percentage of Section 42 investigations.  Slightly fewer referrals have been converted into formal inquiries and 2 out of 10 referrals go to a formal review.  

The Board is working to review and challenge multiagency arrangements and prevent multiagency failure.  Learning across the partnership continues while collectively and individually providing support and challenge to each other. 

Concerns are addressed by the original organization and they are held to account.  Safeguarding is everyone’s business.  

Hampshire Constabulary act proactively and diligently in terms of learning and addressing issues that need to be taken forward.

The Board must provide a vital safety net and are working to respond better, earlier in the process - upstream and in collaboration with service providers.  

Hampshire remains marginally above the national average.  

Cllr Grajewski left the meeting at 13:36.

In response to questions, Members heard:

The goal remains seeking to prevent the thing that did happen, but there is often media attention when organizations get this wrong.  Positive messages and stories are often not shared to protect identities.    

There are civil, criminal, and reputational consequences from media attention that can damage relationships with partners and public trust. 

Neglect or act of omission is failure to do something that could have been done. 

It’s possible that comes cases are not reported as they remain private matters.  

Patterns of service delivery are looked at and work with partners continue from all vantage points and activities to get a view to ensure there is no stone left unturned.

Adults Health and Care, Police, and CCGs are statutory members but there are a large number of associate members (including advocacy, carer organizations, and key delivery partners) and all have an equal opportunity to speak.  

Members commended the work of the Board and the steps taken to be independently scrutinized.  Annual reports going forwards would include a statement from independent scrutineer.

RESOLVED -

That the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee:

a. Noted the content of the annual report, and 

b. Endorsed the further work in support of the HSAB strategic plan