Andy Bickley (Independent Chair, Adults Safeguarding Board) delivered the Plymouth Safeguarding Adults Partnership Annual Report, and highlighted:

a)    The partnership undertook prevention, engagement, learning and assurance work to uphold the safeguarding needs of adults within the city;

b)    The importance of connectivity and accountability in safeguarding;

c)    The roles and hard work undertaken by multi-agency partnerships to ensure oversight and safeguarding standards;

d)    The partnership operated with a comprehensive business plan, and various subgroups focussed on different aspects of safeguarding;

e)    A peer review had recently been undertaken, offering a valuable assurance and improvement opportunity;

f)     Data indicated that nationally, and in Plymouth, there were high levels of cases with self-neglect. A deep dive review had been commissioned to explore this issue, alongside referral rates for safeguarding;

g)    Priorities for future work included a focus on ensuring safeguarding services were accessible to diverse communities, utilising data to drive prevention and understanding of demographics, and addressing the need for dedicated resources to support the partnership's work;

h)    7,525 safeguarding referrals had been received this year. While this was positive, demonstrating the success of engagement and training efforts with partner agencies, it delivered capacity challenges, and highlighted concerns;

i)     While safeguarding concerns were identified in over 1,000 of the safeguarding referrals, only 469 went to a statutory safeguarding enquiry. The remaining cases were successfully dealt with through risk mitigation or though Care Act Needs and Support Needs Assessments.

In response to questions, the Board discussed:

j)     The transition period between children and adults safeguarding;

k)    The need for enhanced partnership working and coherent priority setting across the children and adults safeguarding partnerships, which were both experiencing similar trends.

The Board agreed to:

1.    Request the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Culture and Communications, liaise with the relevant Service Directors to discuss communication issues occurring during the transition period for children and adults safeguarding;

2.    Note the report.