Minutes:
Mr M Thomas-Sam, Head of Policy and Service Standards, was in attendance for this and the following item.
1. Mr Mills and Mr Thomas-Sam presented a series of slides setting out definitions and statutory guidance relating to adult safeguarding and the way in which issues were addressed by multi-agency working.
2. It was acknowledged that the presentation and items B1a and B1b on the agenda were very closely linked, and the discussion which arose from the presentation included points which could equally relate to the other items. In discussion of the issue, and in Mr Mills’ and Mr Thomas-Sam’s responses to Members’ questions, the following points were highlighted:-
a) the increase in the number of safeguarding alerts could be explained partly by an increase in care staff’s understanding of the issue and willingness to report suspected abuse. It is vital that care staff are fully trained and know what to look for and what to do. The identity of ‘whistleblowers’ is now more protected and they feel more able to report poor practice;
b) KASS officers work closely with Children’s Social Work colleagues to look at safeguarding issues which might arise in any family unit. It was always more difficult to identify safeguarding issues amongst families who were not known to Social Services, and difficult to reach those who did not attend day centres, children’s centres, etc, but partner organisations could help to reach them;
c) it is also difficult for some vulnerable people to be able to identify that they are being mistreated and that there are people who can help them. It was suggested that a wallet-sized card could be produced which would set out key signs to help identify abuse and how and where to report incidents and access help;
d) KCC needed to be able to ensure that care staff (e.g., those working in residential homes) are being given appropriate training, and would need to be confident that all partner organisations were equally committed to delivering training and addressing the issue. Working with trade associations would spread the message to those homes who were members of one, and the joint KCC/NHS Quality in Care Initiative set out a preventative approach to safeguarding within care homes, agreeing a plan of action to address areas for improvement and monitoring progress;
e) for the 1500 adults with learning difficulties who had been placed in Kent by other local authorities, responsibility for safeguarding issues fell to KCC, not the placing authority; and
f) the structure of the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Board had been inspected by the Care Quality Commission in March 2009 and had been praised. Mr Mills assured Members that he was confident that it was fit for purpose, although the structure would shortly be reviewed.
3. RESOLVED that the information given in the presentation and in response to Members’ questions be noted, with thanks, and that KASS officers take forward Members’ suggestion of a wallet-sized card setting out key signs to help identify abuse and how and where to report it and access help.