Agenda item

The Committee considered the Authority’s Annual Report on Adult Safeguarding, which provided information on the role, functions and activities undertaken by the Authority with regard to Adult Safeguarding.  As the lead organisation responsible for adult safeguarding, the Authority is required to have effective arrangements in place to ensure vulnerable adults are protected from harm.  The Authority undertakes its role in close partnership with Dyfed Powys Police, the Hywel Dda University Health Board and local advocacy organisations. 

The report related to the last financial year and summarised the national policy context of Adult Safeguarding at that time, including the implications of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and provided a variety of information including:-

·       regional strategic position

·       operational arrangements

·       key achievements and significant events

·       key challenges and issues

·       quality assurance

·       partnership reports

·       performance and activity information

The Regional Safeguarding Adults Board was now well established.  This Board, chaired by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Director of Social Services, is the lead body responsible for setting strategic direction and governance arrangements for adult safeguarding in the county.  The Board benefits from good strategic leadership and strong partnership arrangements.  The Board has a zero tolerance approach to abuse.  Every person has the right to live a life free from abuse and neglect and it is everyone’s business to ensure that we work together as a community to support and safeguard the most vulnerable in society. 

With the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act in April 2016 safeguarding adults has been placed on a statutory footing for the first time.  With well established governance and scrutiny arrangements, Carmarthenshire was well placed to implement the duties and principles of the Act. 

The following questions/observations were raised on the report:-

·       Reference was made to the corporate parenting training received by some members and officers were asked if it would be possible to roll out this training to all members as they are they eyes and ears of their communities and it was important that they are able to identify neglect;

·       Reference was made to the fact that the MCA/DoLS Manager post has been vacant for almost a year and the fact that the post is being redesigned and officers were asked if too much was being asked of one individual to be responsible for safeguarding too when DoLS is such a big responsibility.  The Senior Safeguarding Manager explained that she will still be the strategic manager and added that we are fortunate in Carmarthenshire as any statutory responsibility does not fall to just one person;

·       Reference was made to the percentage of adult at risk enquiries completed within 7 days increasing from 75.3% in 2016/17 to 92.48% in 2017/18 and officers were asked how such a substantial jump was achieved.  The Committee was advised that there were two reasons for this progress, firstly officers had received clarity over what the duty entails exactly and secondly, there is now a dedicated officers whose  role is to deal with such enquiries;

·       Officers were sked how monitoring of incidents at care homes is undertaken.  The Senior Safeguarding Manager explained that this is undertaken in a number of ways such as contract monitoring officers who routinely visit care homes to have a look around, nursing staff who routinely visit care homes and report back.  Officers also look at trends and occurrences and are able to identify anything unusual.  Regular reports are also received which would alert officers to any problems.

RESOLVED that the report be received.