The Independent Chair of the Wirral Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board presented the report of the Director of Care and Health which provided a further update on the work of the Wirral Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board (WSAPB) and presented the WSAPB 2021-2023 Annual report. The Care Act 2014 requires Local Authorities to establish a Safeguarding Adults Board in its area.

The Wirral Safeguarding Adults Board was comprised of senior leaders across health and social care who commission or deliver services for people in need of help and support who can make decisions about budgets and changes to policies and procedures. Senior leaders from the Hospital Trusts, the Mental Health Trusts, fire, police, probation as well as health and social care services, Healthwatch and Chief Executive of Age Concern who worked with the other voluntary sectors had come together on the Board.

Safeguarding spotlight sessions were offered by the Board and a session was offered.

Members asked how far the Board had got in terms of implementation of the plan. It was clarified that the report contained a table that showed a RAG rating of all the actions. A couple of actions were yellow and still in progress. One of the reds was about obtaining data from colleagues staff training and referrals and the Board were taking that forward. The Board were quite ahead with the forward plan and knew what needed to be done about the areas in yellow.

Members questioned what awareness raising was being done in terms of neglect and whether that included self neglect. It was highlighted that neglect was one of the biggest areas of abuse and the Board had completed a piece of work with Liverpool John Moores University on neglect, self neglect and hoarding behaviours and guidance has been sent to staff across the partnership.

In addition, Members questioned the target for the delivery of the knowledge and skills area which was one of the biggest areas to develop. The report was up to March 2022.

Members asked how the Board can bring an extra level of assurance that existing organisations could not supply. It was explained that the Board brought a multiagency approach and brought together composite reports in one place to see how they link in and work together.

It was agreed by Members that a spotlight session on a subject to be decided by Committee would add value and an update report from WSAPB was offered.

Resolved – That the update report in relation to the work of the Wirral Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board and the 2021 – 2023 Annual report spanning the first 18 months of the Board be noted.