Agenda item

Report ACH20-065

The Safeguarding Adults Board Manager presented the Bromley Safeguarding Adults Board (BSAB) Annual Report for 2019/20.

The Local Authority had a statutory duty under the Care Act 2014 to establish a Safeguarding Adults Board to help and protect vulnerable adults in Bromley. The primary objective of the BSAB was to help and protect adults in Bromley by co-ordinating and ensuring the effectiveness of Board partners. The BSAB had an unrestricted remit in what it was able to do to achieve its objectives.

The BSAB was required, under Schedule 2 (4) of the Care Act 2014 to produce an annual report outlining its achievements and those of its members in relation to the Board’s strategic objectives. The BSAB was obligated to send a copy of the annual report to the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board. Under section 44 of the Act, the BSAB was also required to publish the findings and recommendations from any Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SAR) undertaken. The BSAB took the decision in February 2019 to commission a SAR relating to a care home in the borough, the completion of which was still ongoing.

The Safeguarding Adults Board Manager highlighted that the report was reflective of the period April 2019 to March 2020, which was on the cusp of the country entering into the pandemic. Key priority had included:

-  Self-neglect – 22% of safeguarding enquiries in Bromley related to self-neglect, which was an increase of 10% on the previous year.

-  Hoarding – 26 cases had been reviewed by the Self-Neglect and Hoarding Panel.

-  Domestic Abuse – over 4,700 cases of domestic abuse were reported to the Metropolitan Police in Bromley during 2019 and work had been undertaken to raise awareness in under-presented groups.

-  Fire Safety – 3,278 home fire safety visits had been conducted, and ongoing safeguarding training had been provided to all station-based staff across the borough.

Key achievements of the BSAB had included:

-  Engagement – a series of presentations were delivered to communities, and a consultation questionnaire had been developed.

-  Communication – the BSAB logo had been rebranded, Safeguarding Awareness posters and Self-Neglect leaflets had been developed.

-  Annual Conference – had been well attended and received positive feedback.

-  Safeguarding Awareness Week – 1-hour bitesize learning sessions, focusing on priority areas, had been delivered.

-  As well as SAR’s; joint partnership working with the BSCP; audit achievements and local and national consultations.

The Chairman thanked the Safeguarding Adults Board Manager for presenting the BSAB Annual Report to the Board, and for all the work undertaken. It was noted that the report was very detailed, and Board Members were asked to contact the Safeguarding Adults Board Manager directly with any comments or questions.

The Director of Adult Social Care informed Board Members that the appointment of the new Independent Chair of the Bromley Safeguarding Adults Board had been confirmed. Teresa Bell was currently the Independent Chair of two other Safeguarding Boards and had a wealth of experience – confirmation of her start date was expected shortly.

RESOLVED that the Bromley Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2019/20 be noted.