Jason Oxley, Assistant Director of Care and Health introduced the report which outlined the proposal to step down the Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Board and establish a Local Safeguarding Adults Board in Wirral.

The report detailed how Wirral Council was currently a member of the Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Board alongside Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley, but that following a peer review by the Local Government Association it had been decided by the existing Board members to change the arrangements to a local level, where it was felt that there was more opportunity to strengthen links with the domestic abuse strategy and services.

Members were supportive of the introduction of a local Safeguarding Board and felt it would complement the local health and social care integration agenda. It was noted that the Children’s Safeguarding Board had undergone similar rearrangements and there was an opportunity for learning from those experiences.

Resolved – That

(1)  the establishment of a Wirral Local Safeguarding Adults Board to fulfil the statutory requirements that are currently being met and managed by the Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Board be agreed in principled.

(2)  a further report outlining the plans to establish a Wirral Local Safeguarding Adults Board be received at a future meeting of the Adult Social Care and Health Committee.