Agenda item

In accordance with the Care Act 2014, the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board is required to publish an Annual Report each financial year.

This report introduces the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board’s (KMSAB) Annual Report for April 2018 - March 2019. The Annual Report sets out the responsibilities and structure of the Board and details how the multi-agency partnership delivered against its priorities for the year. The report also provides information pertaining to Safeguarding Adults Reviews, funding arrangements and safeguarding activity information. The Annual Report was endorsed by the KMSAB on 5 November 2019. An easy read version of the report has been commissioned and will be made available on the Board’s website.

This report was considered by the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 January 2020 and its comments are set out in section 5 of the report.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board’s (KMSAB) Annual Report for April 2018 - March 2019 which had been prepared in accordance with the Care Act 2014. The Independent Chair of the KMSAB drew the Board’s attention to key sections of the report and highlighted the achievements of the KMSAB during the reporting period. In addition, the Board was advised of Medway specific data set out in detail at section 4 of the report.

In relation to concerns expressed about Housing 21, a provider of Extra Care Housing in Medway, it was explained that the KMSAB had a strategic role and did not provide frontline services. However, it was recognised that it was important for any safeguarding issues to be investigated and the Assistant Director, Adult Social Care undertook to discuss specific concerns in more detail outside of the meeting.

With regards to questions relating to peer review and assurance, it was explained that the KMSAB had undertaken a large number of Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs). The SAR methodology was available online.

It was also explained that the KMSAB required partners to complete a quality assurance assessment form which required them to provide evidence against a set of questions. A selection of partners had been subsequently interviewed as part of a peer challenge process.

In response to questions and concerns about the increase in the number of safeguarding concerns raised in Medway over the period, it was considered that this was as a result of the work undertaken to raise awareness of safeguarding, as opposed to an increasing problem. The role of the KMSAB was to monitor, assess and assure that safeguarding arrangements were in place and assist partners to develop action plans for improvement. The KMSAB continued to monitor action plans developed in response to the findings of SARs to ensure these were progressed and completed.

It was recognised that there was a greater opportunity to observe poor practice in a care home setting, compared to a community setting. Therefore, it was considered that there was a potential for safeguarding concerns in the community to be underreported. It was important that work continued in communities.

In response to questions concerning the responsibilities and the impact of the KMSAB, the Board was advised that the KMSAB was one of the most proactive Boards in the Country. Its key responsibilities were set out on page 26 of the agenda (page 6 of the Annual Report, Appendix 1 to the report). Reference was drawn to the achievements of the Board, including training 661 multi-agency operational staff across Medway and Kent. It was noted that the KMSAB delivered all its work within a restricted budget envelope and would do more if budgets allowed. 

With reference to the discussion at the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, a question was raised in relation to whether any concerns had been raised about low wages and long working hours. Recognising that the Local Authority had a responsibility to ensure that the market was sustainable, it was confirmed that no current causes for concern had been identified.

Decision:

The Health and Wellbeing Board:

a)    noted the comments of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee set out at section 5 of the report;

b)    noted the Annual Report set out at Appendix 1 to the report; and

c)    noted that the Assistant Director, Adult Social Care would discuss specific concerns in relation to Housing 21 with the Member outside of the meeting.