Decision details

Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2015 -16

Decision Maker: Executive Scrutiny Committee

Is Key decision?: No

Purpose:

Lancashire County Council is a prominent member agency of Lancashire Safeguarding Adult Board (LSAB). This report sets out the Draft Annual Report of the Lancashire Safeguarding Adult Board for 2015-16. The report is being presented prior to publication.

The report is attached as an Appendix. The main body of the report has been written by the previous Chair of the Board, who resigned earlier in 2016 and an Interim Independent Chair has been in place since March 2016.

The report draws attention to the impact of changes in legislation which have put the Board on a statutory footing; it provides a brief local context and information about the Board’s priorities in 2015-16, together with analysis of data, it reports on coordination and collaboration between services and draws conclusions re adult safeguarding. The report concludes with a review of news during the year which highlights issues in safeguarding.

What is clear from the report is that adult safeguarding is challenging. Adult vulnerability is complex. The demographic profile of the community will continue include increasing numbers of people who fall into service user groups more vulnerable to risk of abuse or neglect (including self-neglect) because of their health or social care needs or issues of mental capacity, abuse and neglect. The challenge will be, at a time of reducing resources, making a proportionate response and delivering a personalised service.

Decisions:

The Committee considered and welcomed the draft Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2015/16.

 

The Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services highlighted a number of important issues set out in the report, including:

 

  • The significant challenges facing those responsible for safeguarding vulnerable adults
  • Two thirds (6,502) of the referrals (9,879) to MASH (between January 2015 and end of February 2016) did not merit a safeguarding review.  It was important to have a robust system and evidence to show that the referrals were being handled properly.
  • Lancashire had been identified as the highest geographical area for suicides between April 2014 and September 2015.  It was important to identify any trends in  suicides e.g. drug abuse 
  • The closure of Calderstones would have a serious and profound effect on the safeguarding of adults in Lancashire.  It was important to obtain an assurance from health services about continuing care and that the funding burden would not fall on Lancashire tax payers.

 

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to Cabinet be noted, and that, subject to the above-mentioned points, no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

Divisions Affected: (All Divisions);

Contact: Victoria Gibson, Senior Business Manager Email: Victoria.Gibson@lancashire.gov.uk.

Report author: Maya Evenson-Appleyard

Date of decision: 12/07/2016

Decided at meeting: 12/07/2016 - Executive Scrutiny Committee

Accompanying Documents: