MINUTES OF THE WALSALL ADULT PARTNERSHIP SAFEGUARDING BOARD MEETING HELD ON
THURSDAY, 21 MARCH 2013
PRESENT:
Jane EvansSuzanne Joyner
Andy Rust
Yvonne Nolan
Sue Marshall
Hassan Omar
Andrea Potts
Davina Lytton
June Murrow
Peter Davis
Sally Roberts
Debbie Cooper
Maddy Wilkes / Independent Chair
Head of Community Care
Head of Joint Commissioning – Vulnerable Adults
Service Manager – Adult Safeguarding
Black Country Partnership
Head of Service (DWMHT)
Head of Housing
Age UK, Walsall
Walsall College
Head of Community Care
Assistant Director (Nursing Quality and Safety)
Vulnerable Adults (DWMHPT)
Minute Taker / (JE)
(SJ)
(AR)
(YN)
(SM)
(HO)
(AP)
(DL)
(JM)
(PD)
(SR)
(DC)
(MW)
1. APOLOGIES:
John Leach Head of Communities (JL)
Mike Marsh West Midlands Fire Service (MM)
Sheri Rogers Walsall Domestic Violence Forum (SRo)
Rob Brown Caldmore Housing (RB)
Sue Hartley Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (SH)
Martin Hurcomb West Midlands Police (MH)
Graham Reiter Children’s Services (GR)
ACTION2. / MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 17 JANUARY 2013
Agreed as a true record.
JE had now met with the majority of Board members and will be making arrangements to see SH as soon as possible.
Item 7 – Safeguarding Triggers Protocol - Several meetings have now taken place. Agreed that this piece of work will link into the Vulnerability Forum which will now include all key partners, i.e. Ambulance, Fire, and A &E services.
3. / ACTION LOG AND FORWARD PLAN
Action Log Updated
Item:
1. Adrian Roche was unable to attend the meeting and will be invited to attend on 23 May 2013 to give a position update on the sub-group and work across the partnerships.
2. Case file audit to be carried out.
3. MH to chair the Regional SCR Sub-group. However, now need to identify for the local SCR sub-group and draft terms of reference. SR to update on the SCR awayday. JE to arrange meeting with MH
4. Now have draft overarching information sharing protocol for the local authority which will be discussed with Carol Williams.
5. JE had sent a short briefing note for inclusion in the newsletter and asked that all members give some thought to how they can contribute.
6. Performance data to be discussed as a main agenda item.
Forward Plan
Updated – Attached
May Agenda
Winterbourne – Ian Staples to be invited to give update
Domestic Abuse – Adrian Roche to be invited to give update
Safe Places – Donna Smith to be invited to do short presentation. / MW
JE
4. / SUB GROUP UPDATES
Training and Development Sub-Group
Last meeting was very poorly attended and had to be cancelled resulting in poor progress.
Priorities for the next quarter will include:
Ø Improved attendance
Ø Developing a plan for Board approval regarding sustainable training model for key people within identified organisations.
There may be some commissioning arrangements required to deliver the training and until safeguarding training is mandatory then consistency and compliance will remain an issue.
DC asked if the sub-group will be looking at both the content and level of training. It was felt that there should be a minimum standard of training and then various levels depending on job roles etc. Also need to look at how organisations evidence and measure safeguarding training.
Discussion around the level and monitoring of safeguarding training within residential settings and other accommodation that is not subject to inspection. There needs to assurances that training is embedded within contracts. Noted that any issues should be picked up via the Social Care and Inclusion Quality Team or the Contract Monitoring Team. AR felt that it would be useful to see the number of referrals received from care homes within the last 12 months,
SR made reference to the Performance and Competency Frameworks and felt that it would be useful for JM to attend the next Quality and Performance Sub-Group along with Elaine Betts. BM advised that the Black Country Partnership have an agreed competency framework that could be adopted across all the boards to ensure consistency.
AP, as Chair of the Walsall Housing Partnership Board, felt that it would be useful for JM to attend one of their Board meeting. It was important that social landlords have a clear understanding of the impact of safeguarding training.
Quality and Performance Sub-Group
Sub group have now established and agreed:
Ø Governance and Assurance frameworks.
Ø Discussion with other chairs of sub groups how the groups support the work of this sub group.
Ø Complaints and compliments process for feedback from agencies regarding safeguarding activity.
Ø Hot topics questionnaire.
Ø Safeguarding adults documentation audit template developed.
Ø ASU Performance data.
Ø Completion of documentation audit in order to pilot new tool.
The recent Serious Case Review (SCR) Awayday looked at developing a Walsall Model for SCR’s and Domestic Homicide Reviews. Lengthy discussion had taken place on how to take this forward and it has been agreed that JE would undertake this piece of work.
Communication Sub-Group
Meeting held on 8 March 2013
Ø Newsletter to go out next week. Any articles to be sent to DL.
Ø Website to be updated on a regular basis and DL will be discussing with Kevin Dwyer the possibility of some members of the Sub-Group having administration access to the website. The link to Safeguarding Procedures and Local Guidance already set up.
Ø World Elder Abuse Day – 15 June 2013 – the Board may want to consider doing something locally.
Ø JE will be pulling together a report following her recent meetings with Board members. / YN
5. / SERIOUS CASE REVIEW/DOMESTIC HOMICIDE REVIEW
YN will now be the Social Care and Inclusion lead for Domestic Homicide Reviews. 2 Reviews currently in progress and JE will be pulling together reports once all information is available. Need to consider how findings can be shared with Board members.
6. / OFSTED INSPECTION
Two day themed inspection across Children and Adult Mental Health Services undertaken in September/October 2012. Although findings have not yet been received, several actions are currently being addressed. A number of changes have been made in relation to assessment documentation, information sharing and the definition of parental mental health. Discussions have also taken place with Graham Reiter regarding how Children’s Services will interface with parental mental health. Action Plan to be developed.
In order to ensure consistency all changes made in Dudley will also be implemented in Walsall. This is a significant piece of work and will put on the forward plan for updates in July 2013. Graham Reiter to update on the work being undertaken in Children’s Services. / MW
GR
7. / PERFORMANCE DATA
This data will populate the Abuse of Vulnerable Adults (AVA) statistical return for 2012/13. Data cleansing is currently taking place and the figures will be finalised for the return in June 2013. Since October 2012 the local authority has been using a series of revised forms to collect some performance data electronically.
Data includes:
· Number of safeguarding alerts received from 1/10/12-17/3/13.
· Alert decision in 24 hours.
· Outcome of investigation.
· Types of abuse.
· Comparisons with types of abuse 2011-12.
Also included is data information relating to the awareness raising and promotional activity. Over 140 visits have been made by ASU staff to raise public awareness. Noted that 82.2% of people using services feel that those services have made them feel safe and secure. The AVA statistical return to be brought back to the May meeting prior to submission in June 2013.
The Board noted the report and raised the following points issues:
1. Data should include the source of the referral.
2. YN to obtain individual local authority statistics across the Black Country to benchmark comparisons.
3. Discussion to take place at the Housing Partnership Board chaired by AP focussing on issues that fall outside the quality monitoring processes.
Performance Data to be a standing item on the agenda. / YN
YN
MW
8. / HOT TOPICS
JE to circulated hot topics template for Board members to complete and return. For discuss at a future Board meeting. / JE
9. / BOARD MEMBERS TO REPORT ON LOCAL ISSUES
Ø Changes to the Benefits System -Lynn Hall to be invited to a future Board meeting to discuss changes to the benefits system, particular in relation to the bedroom tax. Board needs to be aware how these changes will impact on people and potential safeguarding issues. AP to distribute some general information.
Ø CCG Board – To ensure consistency the CCG will be developing an operational safeguarding role.
Ø Statutory Safeguarding Board arrangements - YN to report back on implications for the Board.
Ø Self Directed Support/Intake Redesign - Reviewing of SDS process currently taking place within Social Care and Inclusion. The review will look at the assessment process for personal budgets. Work is also ongoing to redesign ‘Front End’ services.
Ø Manor Hospital - AR advised that the Manor Hospital along with several others across the West Midlands region are currently on Level 4 which could result in a major incident.
Ø Outcome of Chairs meeting with Board Members - JE to report findings and recommendations to the next Board.
Ø Financial Implications - JE had asked Board members to supply information on what financial contribution their respective organisations commit to adult safeguarding, i.e. venues for meeting, in kind etc. JE to pull together this information to be reported back to the Board. / MW
AP
YN
JE
JE
10. / ANY OTHER BUSINESS
None
11. / DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Date: Thursday, 23 May 2013
Time: 10.00 am
Venue: Conference Room, The Council House, Walsall
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