Issue - meetings

The Panel considered the report of Independent Chair of the Local Safeguarding Adults Board introducing the 2015-16 Annual Report

Fiona Bateman (independent Chair of the LSAB), Paul Juan (Acting Service Director) and Saq Yasin (Service Lead, Data Integration and Performance Management) were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

It was reported to the Panel that there problems relating to quality, usefulness and accuracy of the available data.  The independent Chair explained that she had been given assurance that these problems had now been resolved and this view was re-inforced by the Acting Service Director and the Service Lead.

The Panel questioned whether, given the nature of the data, it was possible to ascertain the true position relating to the effectiveness of the Board and whether there had been any improvements in the City’s support to vulnerable adults.  The Panel expressed concern that any report would be unable to truly understand trends in performance but were informed that whilst the data was very important there were other measures and reports that this could be judged by.  It was explained that the report itself provides very strong caveats in regard to the quality of the data but sort to provide a basis on which improvements would be encouraged.  The Panel sought a greater understanding of the age break down between 18 – 64. It was explained that this data range was used nationally but, that where dates of birth were available it may be possible to refine the data.  It was noted that a great deal of effort had been put into training frontline staff to be aware of the signs of abuse or neglect in order to encourage them to report potential victims at the earliest  possible stage.  Councillors asked whether it would be possible for such training to be offered to Members.

 RESOLVED that:

(i)  the Panel noted the draft report of the Local Safeguarding Adults Board and requested that the final version be emailed to Members in due course; and

(ii)  the Panel requested that all Members should be offered the opportunity to undertake the awareness training given to staff to identify potential victims of abuse.