Agenda and minutes

No declarations were made.

Resolved –  That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th July 2016 be approved as a correct record.

The Board reviewed the Partnership Conference event held on 22^nd September 2016, which had included the launch of the refreshed Slough Wellbeing Strategy.  Feedback from Board Members and attendees was positive and it was agreed that the conference was a good starting point for the refreshed strategy and future engagement.

It was intended that the conference become and an annual event and a range of comments were noted:

·  The key actions within each of the four strategic priorities needed to be defined; progress tracked and achievements highlighted to build on the momentum.

·  The Board would need to demonstrate that it had listened to and acted upon feedback and views expressed at the event.

·  The range of partners in attendance was good; however, there were some gaps in terms of some NHS bodies and the VCS which could be addressed next year.

·  Consideration should be given to using the conference to showcase the work of partners and/or partnerships, both through plenary speakers and possibly exhibition stands to highlight some of excellent work taking place across Slough.

The JSNA summary infographic had been effective in highlighting some of key issues and challenges facing the borough.  It was agreed that an electronic version should be circulated to the Board, partners and conference attendees along with the outcomes report that the Council policy team was currently compiling from the table workshops and feedback on the day.

Resolved –

(a)  That the feedback from the Partnership Conference be noted and considered in planning for the event in 2017.

(b)  That the JSNA summary infographic be circulated to Board Members, attendees and other relevant partners along with the outcomes report and slides.

The Independent Chair of Slough Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB), Nick Georgiou, introduced a report on the Board’s Annual Report for 2015/16.  Whilst the annual report itself was necessarily retrospective in nature, looking back at the key achievements and issues of the past year, Mr Georgiou took the opportunity to update the Wellbeing Board of current work and future priorities.

The reporting period covered the first full year since the introduction of the Care Act 2014 and partners had taken on board the wider definition of safeguarding, for example the inclusion of self neglect.  The SSAB had sought to work co-operatively across Berkshire, partly to reflect the fact that several partners spanned a wider geography to improve engagement.  There had been a continuous increase in demand for services and the Board was updated on the significant rise in the number of Deprivation of Liberty safeguards (DoLs) applications received.  The report explained how the partnership was working to reduce and manage safeguarding risk.  The streamlined annual report also included highlight reports from each of the partners as well as priorities for 2016/17.

The Board discussed a range of issues including the effectiveness of information sharing arrangements in processing safeguarding enquiries, known as Section 42 enquiries under the Care Act; the rise in the number of DoLs applications from 20 in March 2014 to 361 currently; and the work that could be done to focus on the Board’s priority of mental health.  A question was asked about the reviews undertaken in cases of suicide and it was responded that the Serious Adult Reviews Subgroup of the Board carried out such reviews, however, it was considered information flows between partners could be further improved.  The issue of self-neglect for people with mental health conditions was discussed and a member asked how the process of identifying people and referring them to safeguarding could be improved.  Mr Georgiou highlighted that self-neglect had been a feature in two of the most three recent Serious Adult Reviews and the learning had been taken on board as part of strategic objective 1 of the Board’s Business Plan to improve identification of risk to the individual and management of that risk. 

It was recognised that some partners, such as the Fire & Rescue Service, were particularly effective in reaching people in ways that the statutory safeguarding agencies could not.  There was potential to make greater linkages to the RBFRS home protection visit programme for example, and the Board’s attention was drawn to the pilot underway of “The Adult Referral Guide”.  At the conclusion of the discussion, the Annual Report was noted.

Resolved –  That the Slough Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2015/16 be noted.

A report was considered that recommended that the Board adopt a refreshed multi-agency Overarching Information Sharing Protocol to strengthen and improve the current arrangements.  The revised protocol, as at Appendix A to the report, had been drafted following consultation with partners and was more focused on principles and was shorter than the previous version which the Board had approved in July 2015.  It was proposed that a separate document with the more detailed arrangements would sit alongside the main protocol.

The Board was supportive of the principles set out in the protocol and felt that it would be beneficial for individual Information Sharing Agreements to be consistent.  It was therefore proposed and agreed that Thames Valley Police take a lead on designing a standard template for this purpose that could be used across the partnership.  It was also agreed that it was important that key partners who were not members of the Board, particularly in the NHS, be encouraged to adopt the protocol.  Members were invited to advise Amanda Renn of any specific organisations who they felt should be approached.

It was recognised that strong information sharing arrangements were crucial to successful partnership working, and was regularly identified as a factor in serious case reviews.  The Board therefore agreed to adopt the new protocol and welcomed the offer of Thames Valley Police to lead on the production of a standard Information Sharing Agreement for use across the partnership.

Resolved –

(a)  That the refreshed Overarching Information Sharing Protocol at Appendix A to the report be adopted, subject to any final textual amendments.

(b)  That the arrangements be reviewed in 12 month’s time, or once the Pan-Berkshire Information Sharing Protocol (currently under development) had been finalised, whichever occurred first.

(c)  That Thames Valley Police take the lead in designing a standard Information Sharing Agreement for the Board.

(d)  That Board Members suggest any other relevant partners who should be approached to adopt the Protocol.

The Board received a presentation on the Council’s emerging Housing Strategy from the Interim Director of Housing, Regeneration and Resources, Mike England, and the Interim Head of Housing, Paul Thomas.  In addition to providing input to shape the new strategy, housing had been chosen as the first themed discussion as one of the four priorities in the new Slough Joint Wellbeing Strategy.  It was recognised that housing linked to each of the other strategic priorities, and the wellbeing agenda more generally, and it was an increasingly important issue locally due to the significant housing pressures facing Slough and neighbouring boroughs.

The strategy included five initial objectives: supply of new homes; private rented sector; Council homes and the Housing Revenue Account; homelessness and housing need; special housing needs and vulnerable groups.  The strategy was being developed in the Slough context of the fastest rate of house price growth in the country, an affordability ratio of 11:1, significant forecast population growth and 2,500 applicants on the Housing Register.  During the presentation, Board Members were invited to contribute their views on issues such as housing for key workers, opportunities to maximise the use of land in public sector ownership and identifying families in need of support.  The draft strategy would undergo consultation before approval by the Council in January 2017.

The Board had a wide ranging discussion on key aspects of the strategy.  The processes in place to identify and support people and families housed in private rented accommodation in Slough by other local authorities was discussed at length.  It wasn’t possible to accurately quantify the number of people placed locally at any one time.  Although Council’s had a duty to notify an authority, it was recognised that this did not happen in every case and the process of recording and utilising such information could be improved.  Members felt that many people placed locally in such circumstances may be vulnerable and have a high level of need which required good communication with and between the Council, families and other service providers to ensure they received the appropriate support.  Accessing peoples medical records was cited as a problem which meant there was a risk that people’s needs were not being properly understood.  The Board asked the Council to provide assurance that a clear and effective process was in place to receive and log notifications from other authorities when people were placed in Slough.  Further consideration was needed of how people placed in Slough could be directed to other relevant services, particularly GPs, perhaps through a register.

A number of suggestions were made on housing for key workers, for example housing nurses or care workers with people in need in support.  The Board felt that key worker accommodation was a key issue for a range of partners and the strategy provided an opportunity to consider the options to tackle the issue together.  Concern was expressed about the affordability of properties in Slough, particularly for young people, and it was suggested that the Youth Parliament be engaged in the strategy to ensure it reflected their issues and aspirations. It was recognised that increasing supply was important in addressing affordability in the long term and the Council was also looking at the issue of differential rent levels to ensure that there was sufficient support for people with the lowest levels of income.

Other issues discussed included the outcomes of the current housing stock review; the provision of adapted and extra care housing to support independent living; and tackling under-occupation by supporting people into more suitable accommodation.  The discussion was the starting point for engagement with partners and Board Members were invited to submit any further comments to the Interim Director.

Resolved –

(a)  That the presentation be noted and that Mike England and Paul Thomas be thanked for the comprehensive presentation.

(b)  That the feedback from the Board be considered and incorporated into the emerging Housing Strategy.

(c)  The any further comments from Board Members be made to the Council’s Strategic Director of Regeneration, Housing & Resources.

(d)  That a housing representative be invited to future meetings of the Board where it was considered matters particularly relevant to the housing priority would be discussed.

The Forward Work Programme was agreed.  The themed discussion planned for November on Engaging People needed to be scoped in agreement with the Chair to maximise the value of the session.

Resolved –   That the Forward Work Programme be noted.

An information report was considered on the progress being made to deliver the Sustainability and Transformation Plan for the Frimley footprint.  Work was ongoing to finalise the plan ahead of submission to NHS England on 21^st October 2016 and plans were in place for wider engagement and communication with partners and stakeholders.

Resolved –   That the information report be noted.

An information report was received about the work of the Preventing Violent Extremism Coordinating Group to reduce the risk of people being drawn into terrorism.  The Board noted the report and the Prevent Action Plan for 2016/17 as attached at Appendix A to the report.

Resolved –   That the information report be noted.

The Slough Wellbeing Board attendance record for 2016/17 was received and noted.

Resolved –   That the report be noted.

The Board reviewed the key outcomes from the meeting and learning points for future meetings.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 16^th November 2016.