Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Nick Georgio, the Independent Chair of the Slough Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Partnership Board to the meeting. 

Ged Taylor, Interim Assistant Director Community and Adult Social Care outlined detailed relating to the Slough Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Partnership Board, summarising the improvements made in the period April 2010 and September 2011.

Members were informed that safeguarding related to reducing harm experience by a vulnerable person by the abusive actions of others.  Safeguarding was everybody’s business and was about taking action to raise awareness that abuse of vulnerable people was wrong. 

The Board’s priorities for the period 2011 – 2014 were outlined as:

·  Awareness and community engagement

·  Prevention

·  Risk and choice and control

·  Safe delivery of care services

·  Partnership working

·  Workforce development

·  Improved processes and delivery of the Board’s work.

It was highlighted that the Board’s work had focused on effective strategic leadership, which was necessary to deliver required safeguarding standards and performance improvements at a local level.  Multi-agency planning and joint working was strengthened to better respond to abuse and neglect. 

Members were informed of the progress and achievements that had been made in Slough, which included:

·  “Don’t Suffer in Silence” – card campaign which was publicised and distributed across public and voluntary services in the Borough.

·  “Stop It Now” campaign established to increase awareness of hate crime experience by people of with learning disabilities. 

·  Risks presented to over 70 victims of anti-social behaviour were monitored and supported by agencies as a direct result of joint working.

·  Regarding a serious incident at a private Nursing Home, the Board commissioned an independent chair to convene a review of the circumstances surrounding the incident (Serious Case Review)

·  380 Safeguarding Awareness Training places were made available through the Council’s Safeguarding Training Programme

·  Working arrangements between safeguarding services and community safety teams improved.

It was highlighted that the number of repeat referrals had reduced significantly to 3% compared to 12% in the previous year.  However, referrals from statutory agencies had increased, particularly from the health sector, which now formed 37% of the total number of referrals.  Concerns raised by family members also fell slightly although this figure remained higher than the Regional average.  Self referrals and referrals from neighbours remained largely unchanged. Responding to whether the Local Authority should be concerned in an increase in the number of referrals, it was stated that this should be viewed as a positive measure as potential matters were being identified and there was a greater awareness of issues amongst professionals. 

The future priorities for the Board were outlined and included developing a specialist service for hidden vulnerable groups and working with GP’s to ensure their readiness to undertake their new statutory responsibilities in 2013. 

A number of detailed questions were asked by Members.  It was explained that Safe Place Schemes were being developed and involved providing support to people who were feeling vulnerable when they were out in the community. The scheme worked with the support and commitment of local businesses where a Safe Place sticker was displayed in the window, identifying them as a place where a vulnerable person could, in an emergency, receive immediate short-term help and contact be made on their behalf to the police or carer as required. Members were informed that the scheme was being piloted in Langley and if successful would be rolled out across the borough.    

Resolved –   That the report be noted.