Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/125

Contact: Steven Turner, OSAB Business Manager Tel: (01865) 328993

Report by the Director of Adult Services (CA8).

The OSAB is required to report annually on the work of the Board and of its partners, assessing the position of the partnerships in relation to the safeguarding adults at risk within Oxfordshire.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)        Note that the adult safeguarding partnership is working across Oxfordshire and that work undertaken by the Board and its partners has resulted in a 9% decrease in safeguarding concerns being referred into the Local Authority, reversing a six-year trend of an annual 30% increase in concerns year-on-year.

(b)        Note the priorities within the report (pages 24 & 25) around service user and community engagement, improving multi-agency working, monitoring key issues and early help strategies & initiatives for 2018-19.

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet considered the annual report of the OSAB on the work of the Board and of its partners, assessing the position of the partnerships in relation to safeguarding adults at risk within Oxfordshire.

Councillor Brighouse, Chairman of Performance Scrutiny Committee, praised the layout and commented on the report being easy to understand. She was pleased to see the 9% decrease in safeguarding concerns and that there was a clearer understanding of what needed to be referred into the system. Councillor Brighouse highlighted areas discussed by the Committee including the difficulty in tackling hoarding, the lack of usability of the thresholds for the enquiry process, the commissioning process, issues around extra care housing and issues around lasting power of attorney.

Pamala Marsden, Independent Chair of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board introduced the report and commented that it had been a different report with the aim of reaching people, raising awareness through the year.

During discussion Cabinet:

·         Stressed the importance of the crossover with the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board (OSCB). The transition phase as a young person reached adulthood was important. For older people there was the problem of identification as some older people feared to ask for help.

·         Noted the role of community groups and that they were able to notice changes in people attending lunch clubs, coffee mornings etc. Melanie Pearce responding to a question explained that training was offered to voluntary groups and helpful information could be found on the website. Asked if thought could be given on ways to reach out to informal groups such as lunch clubs and coffee mornings Pamala agreed that it was something she could take back for the Board to consider. Councillor Corkin offered to take an item to a parish liaison meeting

·         Highlighted the work of the OFRS in supporting adult safeguarding.

·         Explored the problem of loneliness and its implications for safeguarding.

·         Asked that consideration be given to bringing future reports to an earlier meeting closer to the end of the year being considered.

RESOLVED:             to: -

(a)        note that the adult safeguarding partnership is working across Oxfordshire and that work undertaken by the Board and its partners has resulted in a 9% decrease in safeguarding concerns being referred into the Local Authority, reversing a six-year trend of an annual 30% increase in concerns year-on-year; and

(b)        note the priorities within the report (pages 24 & 25) around service user and community engagement, improving multi-agency working, monitoring key issues and early help strategies & initiatives for 2018-19.