Agenda item

17.1     The Board considered a report on the East Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) Annual Report for 2023/24 introduced by Seona Douglas, Independent Chair East Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board.  The SAB is a strategic Board that works across East Sussex to coordinate safeguarding for adults. It publishes a strategic annual plan of work and an annual report as well as conducting and publishing a number of Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) each year. Learning from the SARs is incorporated into future work plans. The report provides an update on the work carried out with partners under a number of strategic themes which set out the priorities for the work of the Board. The report also sets out priority areas for the SAB over the next 3 years (2024-27) which include:

·       Self-neglect

·       Prevent and early intervention

·       Safeguarding and homelessness

17.2     Councillor Webb commented on the number of safeguarding issues involving people with learning disabilities and dual or multiple diagnoses (e.g. SAR Donna). He asked about the level of advocacy services that are being provided and whether they were at the same level.

17.3     Seona Douglas responded that transitions work used to be predominantly around those people with learning disabilities, but it is now more about those with complex needs. The Donna SAR is symptomatic of many of the reviews where the challenges are around those people who have substance dependence, and work is necessary across a range of organisations to meet those needs. The challenge was that agencies would all do the right things but were doing them individually. Holding multi-agency meetings to coordinate services are key to meeting needs wholistically, within a multi-agency framework. What the SAB is looking for is assurance that all agencies are working together in a wholistic way. Mark Stainton added that Adult Social Care does have a contract for Advocacy Services, which is a demand led service, and there has been no change in the level of support in the contract.

17.4     Mark Stainton thanked Seona for the annual report and for the excellent chairing of the SAB, which has developed significantly under her leadership. The Local Government Association (LGA) peer review that took place earlier in the year was very complimentary about the way the SAB was working, its leadership and the energy that was evident in the Board. The data in the report helps provide an evidence base from which to make decisions, prioritisations and understand the context that all the agencies are operating within. Mark agreed that we do need to find a meaningful way of getting input from residents and service users. The priorities for the SAB going forward are reflective of the pressures and priorities around the risks of self-neglect and homelessness, as well as the importance of a preventative approach to safeguarding to meet increasing demand.

17.5     Stephen Lightfoot commented safeguarding adults is an important issue across East Sussex and the independent chairing of the SAB is working really well. The annual report is very well written. He asked if it was possible to identify individuals who might be on more than one partners list and how the joining up of data works.

17.6     Seona Douglas responded that the partners would need to look at how they identify the same people who appear on different partners lists. There are data challenges around this as the data systems do not quite match up. The SAB is trying to get a more coordinated data set for that purpose. The SAB would like to be able to interrogate the data to identify at an earlier point those individuals who are involved with multiple agencies. She agreed to take this away to consider how to answer this point around where there are multiple issues for individuals and families.

17.7     Councillor Ungar commented that he was very pleased with the report and the improvements that are being made on adult safeguarding.

17.8     Councillor Ballard suggested that when considering how to get the residents and service users voice into the work of the SAB, it might be worth commissioning Healthwatch to undertake a piece of work on this. Seona Douglas outlined that the SAB has been talking to Healthwatch about this and there is some sensitivity about when to approach people for their feedback when they may be in crisis. Veronica Kirwan, Healthwatch East Sussex confirmed they are working with the SAB on how the residents and service users voice might best be captured.

17.9     The Chair thanked Seona on behalf of the HWB for the work that the SAB is doing and commented that there is very much a sense of confidence in the whole system of adult safeguarding and that it is working well.

17.10   The Board RESOLVED to note the East Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report for 2023/24.