Agenda item
Safeguarding Adults Annual Report 2008/09
This is the fifth annual report of the Brent Safeguarding Adults Committee and covers the period April 2008 – March 2009. It outlines national developments, the progress made in Brent (including the priorities set in last year’s annual report) and also identifies key issues and future plans for growth and improvement. The report also covers the outcome of the Commission for Social Care Inspection on Independence, Wellbeing and Choice and the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
Minutes:
Councillor Colwill (Lead Member for Adults, Health and Social Care) introduced the report which included details of the outcome of the Commission for Social Care Inspection on Independence, Wellbeing and Choice and the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The Council was taking a leading role amongst its partners in ensuring safeguarding of adults and Brent NHS and Brent Mencap were amongst other organisations involved. Funding was equally split between the Council and NHS Brent and awareness training on this issue had been provided to Members.
Keith Skerman (Interim Assistant Director of Community Care, Housing and Community Care) then addressed the Committee. He explained that the Adult Safeguarding Committee had been replaced by the Safeguarding Adults Board last year which would focus more on supporting people in care. The Commission for Social Care Inspection had raised concerns with regard to quality assurance and the need to ensure thorough auditing. An action plan had been produced as a result of the Inspection’s conclusions and a quality assurance framework was in place, including expanding the Safeguarding Adults Team to include a senior practitioner and support officer for mental capacity/deprivation of liberty safeguards which would bring excellence and expertise to the Team. The Committee noted that there had been a 20% increase in referrals in 2008/09 from the previous year, although the increase was lower than that recorded from the year before and the majority of referrals related to alleged abuse in a client’s own home.
During discussion by Members, Councillor H B Patel sought further details as to the situations which led to safeguarding referrals and whether action was taken by those who had committed the abuse. With regard to direct payments, he enquired what monitoring took place of those who had been chosen to provide the service. He also sought reasons for the low attendance of training in 2008/09. Councillor Clues commented that the increased monitoring of victims seemed to be working effectively.
The Chair commented that there still seemed to be an issue concerning attendance of Safeguarding Adults Board and its’ sub-group meetings. She sought views regarding the impact of the move to more direct payments and opportunities for respite services available for carers. In noting the relatively large proportion of unsubstantiated cases, she enquired whether monitoring of such cases would cease or whether attempts would be made to seek more evidence.
In reply to the issues raised, Councillor Colwill advised that court action could be taken where there had been evidence of financial abuse. He cited a case of an adult who had regained the ability to talk after securing direct payments with the help of Brent Mencap to be able to live on their own and select their own choice of care. Councillor Colwill informed the Committee that safeguarding training was free to all councillors and that it offered useful guidance.
Anne O’Neil (Brent Mencap) was invited to respond to some of the issues raised. Anne O’Neil advised that Brent MENCAP carried out checks when people went onto direct payments and to date there was not much evidence to suggest there being many victims of fraud. A list of approved agencies was available to clients who were considering direct payments and Brent MENCAP could verify whether a potential provider had been Criminal Records Bureau checked. In addition, a Care Manager would review and monitor each case. Members heard that research had suggested that a person’s safety was actually greater when they were not in an institution.
Sarah McDermott (Safeguarding Adults Co-ordinator, Adult Social Care) advised Members that an away day was planned in February 2010 and that representation on the Safeguarding Adults Board and its sub-groups would be reviewed. The Committee heard that the main reasons for safeguarding referrals were physical violence, lack of communication and financial abuse, such as unlawful access to bank accounts. If abuse had been caused by carers, they could be subject to disciplinary action or dismissal. Abuse by family members could result in safeguarding of the victim’s money or action taken to ensure court protection. Monitoring of victims involved liaison with all agencies involved with everyone working to appropriate and prompt action. With regard to unsubstantiated cases, no further action would be taken where there was no evidence of any wrongdoing, however where there was possible evidence the case would continue to be investigated and further evidence sought.
Keith Skerman added that electronic and telecare monitoring also took place to complement conventional forms of monitoring. It was recognised that there was a need to provide respite for family members involved in care in view of the stress that could be experienced. He acknowledged that there could be more respite services available to carers generally, and NHS Brent and the Council were working on a Carers Strategy. Staff were to receive more training to assess the implications for the families involved and it was noted that day centres also offered respite services. With regard to training, Keith Skerman advised that attendance could not enforced, however a charge for non-attendance could be considered to encourage more attendance. It was noted that approximately 50% of organisations involved had attended training sessions to date.
The Chair requested that a breakdown of the various situations involving unsubstantiated cases be provided at a future meeting of the Committee.
RESOLVED:-
that the Safeguarding Adults Annual Report 2008/09 be noted.
Supporting documents:
- 091208 - Safeguarding Adults Covering Report, item 8. PDF 84 KB
- 091208 - Safeguarding Adults Annual Report, item 8. PDF 3 MB