Agenda item

(7 mins presentation; 20 mins member questions)

Derek Oliver (DO), Assistant Director, Community and Adult Social Care, outlined the first full report of the Slough Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Partnership Board and gave a presentation, detailing the work of the Board between April 2009 and March 2010 and the context in which the Board was  operating.

DO advised that adult social services operated within a clear eligibility framework for access to social care support. In response to the Department of Health’s document, ‘No Secrets’, Berkshire Councils  and related agencies revised and updated local procedures into a single Berkshire-wide document and established two multi-agency Safeguarding Boards, East and West, to oversee the workings of the procedures and to develop and improve local multi-agency safeguarding practices.

The Slough Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Partnership Board came into being in April 2009 and had worked in particular on improving partnership working and awareness across the many agencies in Slough and East Berkshire. The work had included  shared strategic priorities that promoted the health and wellbeing of vulnerable residents, and support for the local crime reduction and community safety agenda. There had also been improved working frameworks for frontline staff and a targeted campaigns for public awareness including a bus advertising campaign.

The Panel noted that ‘No Secrets’ had set out the requirement for local Safeguarding Boards to publish an annual report, to be endorsed through each statutory agency’s governance committee. In addition the constitution of the Slough Board stated that the Board would report to Health Scrutiny Panel twice a year to discuss safeguarding issues.

DO advised that the first year of the Board had been busy and its full report set out matters such as progress against priorities, case examples of good practice and the statistical profile of safeguarding reports to Adult Social Care services.  The Panel noted that residential domiciliary care and other services were required to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in accordance with the Care Standards Act 2000. This included services which Slough Borough Council commissioned and some which it provided.  The Panel also noted that the it would receive the Annual Report on an annual basis and that an annual half yearly progress report would be provided.

The Panel congratulated the Officer on his comprehensive report.

In the ensuing debate Members raised a number of comments / questions as follows (responses in italics):-

·  How would the reduction in the number of Social Workers within SBC impact on Safeguarding?

The cut in posts was within Children’s Services and posts would be realigned to accommodate the reduction.

·  The Officer was asked to comment on the fact that the largest single abuser group was to be found within residential care staff.

This issue had been considered and Officers worked closely with the Police to investigate cases when necessary. The Panel was advised that a number of cases had progressed through the Courts. worked closely with the police.

·  Would a person who had been accused of abuse be allowed to continue to work in the same care environment while their case was being investigated?

This would depend on the nature of the accusation- where for example it was felt that the error was made due to ignorance or inadequate training and not due to malicious intent, then in some cases the person would be allowed to continue in their role.

·  A Member attending under Rule 30 highlighted that there was currently a Board Member vacancy and this was noted.

Resolved-

a)  That the report be noted.

b)  That the legal framework for regulated social care changes on 1^st October 2010 with the implementation of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 and the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, be noted.