Agenda item

6.1

The Committee received a joint briefing paper prepared by Jane Haywood (Chair, Adult Safeguarding Board) and Simon Richards (Head of Quality and Safeguarding) which set out the outline business plan for the Sheffield Adults’ Safeguarding Board for 2017/18.  Both of these representatives were in attendance.

6.2

Jane Haywood introduced the item, making reference to a training session on Adult Safeguarding, which had been held for Members of the Committee, during which the Board’s early thinking on priorities had been communicated, with the aim of the two bodies influencing each other’s agenda.  She went on to describe the Board’s current activity, which included implementing the Care Act 2015, Child Sexual Exploitation and work on Female Genital Mutilation.  She also referred to the four key priorities outlined in the briefing paper and advised that the outline plan would be circulated to all partners for comment. 

6.3

Members made various comments and asked a number of questions, to which responses were provided as follows:-

·                A member of Healthwatch Sheffield attended the Safeguarding Board Operational Group meetings and any safeguarding issues were raised with Simon Richards as they arose.  The Safeguarding Board was committed to extending its reach to other agencies as a priority and any reports would be circulated appropriately.

·                It was important to assess the level of risk to isolated individuals and, where agencies had contact with them, their representatives should be particularly mindful of any fire risk.  It was proposed to undertake targeted work on fire risk, in order to make the job of these frontline staff easier.

·                It was acknowledged that the Fire and Rescue Service provided a good way of reaching vulnerable people, but all agencies should be used in this regard.

·                Whilst the Safeguarding Board’s remit did not extend to the provision of providers’ training, it could seek assurances that contracts were monitored and managed properly and provide information in its communications as to where complaints about care services could be directed.  It was commissioning colleagues who monitored contract performance and it was proposed that contracting colleagues would be working in conjunction with Safeguarding officers.

·                Community Support Workers and Nurses had a remit on safeguarding and the Clinical Commissioning Group Lead Nurse worked closely with the Safeguarding Board. 

·                Everything seemed to be in place in Sheffield and there were no outstanding issues.  It was just necessary to make existing procedures work in a better manner.

·                Ideally, a preventative approach was required to safeguarding, for example the early identification of carer stress, so that support or assistance could be provided.  As well as intervention before crisis, there should also be more emphasis on quality.

6.4

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       thanks Jane Haywood and Simon Richards for their contribution to the meeting;

(b)       notes the contents of the briefing paper and attached outline business plan for the Sheffield Adults’ Safeguarding Board 2017/18 and the responses to questions; and

(c)        requests that:-

(i)          a short summary of how Community Support Workers and Nurses contribute to safeguarding be provided to the Policy and Improvement Officer for circulation to Committee Members;

(ii)        the Committee’s report on Domiciliary Services be made available to the Sheffield Adults’ Safeguarding Board; and

(iii)       details of any drop-in sessions held by the Sheffield Adults’ Safeguarding Board be provided to the Policy and Improvement Officer for circulation to Committee Members.