Agenda item

Elaine Oxley, Housing and Adult Social Services, was present at the meeting, together with James Reilly, Independent Chair of the Adults Safeguarding Board.

During consideration of the report the following main points were made –

·         The Board is composed of a diverse group of partner providers in the health, care, justice, housing, voluntary and emergency services, all of whom engage with adults in need

·         Work has taken place with the Board’s sub groups to progress the well-being and safety of the adults at risk whom they serve. It had been particularly pleasing to work with the new service user group to explore the issue of social isolation and how to tackle it as it compounds the safeguarding risks confronting vulnerable adults

·         A successful event was held with voluntary sector and provider commissioned services to launch a safeguarding policy toolkit to strengthen their governance arrangements

·         Four training events were held to highlight issues regarding domestic violence, as this issue has gained national prominence over the past year. A more dynamic relationship has been forged with Pentonville Prison to better understand and support the safeguarding issues and efforts in the Prison

·         Having substantially completed the actions relating to the past 3 year strategy, concluding in March 2018, the Board completed a very successful consultation with Islington residents and professionals to inform its new 3 year strategy, which it agreed for the period April 2018 to March 2021

·         Through on-going training and more general awareness raising people are being encouraged to raise their safeguarding concerns, and indeed the number of referrals remains high, and is increasing. Health and Care Commissioners continually regularly monitor the safeguarding practices of the range of care providers they contract with. Where incidents of concern are raised they are investigated and follow up actions monitored

·         New legislation on social care for older people is in the pipeline, and is expected later in 2018

·         Key achievements included, together with the Board’s service user and carer sub-group, a well-attended social isolation and safeguarding event. The service user and sub-group continues to explore the relationship between the social isolation and safeguarding risks

·         It was noted that the Safeguarding Board met 4 times per year, and acts as an assurance and improvement Board, rather than a performance Board

·         There is good engagement with service users and last year consideration was given to social isolation and financial exploitation

·         Reference was made to paragraph 3.7 of the report, and that the Board’s sub-group considered two new referrals as to whether they met the criteria for a Safeguarding Adults Review under section 44 of the Care Act 2014. One of these cases did not meet the threshold and the other was progressed to conclusion

·         Members noted that where the Council was responsible for Adult Social Care it could have influence on the care provided and there were more concerns where self-funded care is purchased, particularly where mental frailty is concerned

·         The Board worked closely with Healthwatch, who reported concerns and it was also stated that there are regular meetings with the CQC

·         Reference was made to the recent death of a carer by a care user, and it was stated that an immediate review was instituted, however it had been ascertained that the carer had died of natural causes

·         After consulting widely, the Islington Safeguarding Board has developed a new 3 year strategy, and annual plan and this has been aligned with those of the Safeguarding Adults Boards in the North Central London cluster, Enfield, Haringey, Camden and Barnet

·         The Homelessness Reduction Action Plan came into force to address increasing street homelessness. Homelessness and Safeguarding are inter-related on many levels. Homelessness can be a case of self-neglect, which in certain circumstances under the Care Act, may now require a safeguarding response and homelessness can put adults with care and support needs at greater risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation

·         A Member enquired as to action being taken in relation to modern day slavery, and it was stated that the Board were trying to extend their reach out into the community to look into instances of trafficking and modern day slavery

·         It was noted that family carers can now be offered professional support

·         In response to a question it was stated that work is taking place with Care UK and there is a better relationship with management to sustain the improvements

The Chair thanked James Reilly and Elaine Oxley for attending