HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

ADULT CARE AND HEALTH CABINET PANEL

THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2009 AT 10.00AM

UPDATE ON SAFEGUARDING VULNERABLE ADULTS ARRANGEMENTS

Report ofthe Director of Adult Care Services

[Author: Sue Darker, Assistant DirectorLearning Disability and Mental Health

Tel: 01992 588820]

Executive Member:Richard Smith(Adult Care and Health)

1.Purpose of the report

1.1To update the Panel on the developments and updated arrangements for the safeguarding of vulnerable adults.

2.Background

2.1Hertfordshire County Council has the lead responsibility for ensuring effective arrangements for safeguarding of adults across the county. Adult Care Services (ACS) leads this work and chairs the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board (HSAB). Other members of the HSAB include Hertfordshire Police, Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust, Probation, NHS East and North Herts and NHS West Herts.

2.2Each member of the board is responsible for ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements are in place within their own organisations.

2.3The safeguarding lead in Adult Care Services (ACS) produces an annual report of activity on behalf HSAB which is published on the county council’s website A copy of the 2008/09 report is attached as Appendix 1. The format of the report was changed last year to reflect the wider target audience, and this has been used again this year.

3.CSCI Service Inspection

3.1In November 2008 the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)carried out a service inspection in Hertfordshire, focussing on personalisation in learning disability services and safeguarding across all services.

3.2Following this inspection, and in considering the recommendations made, arrangements regarding the governance structures for safeguarding vulnerable adults have been reviewed and strengthened.

3.3Historically Hertfordshire helda Safeguarding Adults Committee on a quarterly basis. An immediate decision was made after the inspection to strengthen that forum and establish a Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board.

3.4The HSABis attended by senior managers from the partner organisations. Their accountability and responsibilities are for making sure that:

Their organisations have processes in place to ensure adults are safeguarded;

A multi agency work plan to continuously improve practice and performance is signed up to and constantly monitored;

A multi agency learning and development plan is in place to make sure that all staff are properly trained;

a Serious Case review procedure is in place

-This has now been agreed in principle but needs to be put into practice

3.5All lead organisations have agreed to the new structure which has been developed to deliver the work plan (Appendix 2).

3.6There are strong links between the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (HSCB) and the HSAB:the Chair of the HSAB is a core member of the HSCB, and the CSF safeguarding lead is a core member of the HSAB. This arrangement ensures that all cross cutting issues and themes are addressed and that experiences and learning are also shared.

3.7Member involvement in the safeguarding of adults is also key, and the Executive and Deputy Members of ACS attend and are active members of the HSAB. In addition, a Safeguarding Board Manager has been appointed on a two year project manager basis. They will lead on the development, implementation and management of initiatives that support the adults safeguarding agenda.The post-holder will co-ordinate and commission work to be delivered under the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults from Abuse strategy and work plan. This work will be done in partnership with a range of internal and external partners.

3.8In addition to this, intelligence-gathering work will be lead by the safeguarding board managerto map all other safeguarding activity that needs to link to the board, possible up-coming inspections, and external funding streams.

3.9The first meeting of the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board was held on 4 September 2009, and meetings for the various work streams are also planned.

4.Recommendations

4.1The Adult Care and Health Panel is invited to note the report and comment on the updated safeguarding arrangements for adults in Hertfordshire.

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091111 Adult Care and Health Cabinet Panel

Item 3 – Update on Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Arrangements