Agenda item

North Tyneside and Northumberland Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2021-22

To provide an overview of the work carried out under the multi-agency arrangements for Safeguarding Adults during 2021/22.

North Tyneside and Northumberland Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) Annual Report 2021-22

The purpose of the report was to provide an overview of the work carried out under the multi-agency arrangements for Safeguarding Adults during 2021/22.  (A copy of the report has been filed with the signed minutes).  

P. Mead, North Tyneside and Northumberland Safeguarding Adults Board Independent Chair and K. Wright, Service Manager – Safeguarding Adults introduced the report which detailed the work of the North Tyneside and Northumberland Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) during 2021/22, and provided information about operational safeguarding activity during the year.  The report described a range of improvements in safeguarding arrangements and detailed the work carried out during 2021-22 across all partner organisations, working together to improve safeguarding arrangements for vulnerable people. 

Following on from the significant increases in safeguarding activity reported last year, in 2020/21 Northumberland continued to experience increases in safeguarding demand. Northumberland data showed a 38% increase in safeguarding concerns, and a 6% rise in safeguarding enquiries, compared to last year.  In terms of local trends there has been a continued rise in domestic abuse, physical abuse, and self-neglect.  

A key focus for the SAB this year had been understanding the impact of the pandemic on local safeguarding activity. 

The report set out the SAB’s work in response to the five key strategic priorities in the SAB Annual Strategic Plan, which had been informed by local safeguarding data; experiences and feedback; partner self-assessments; and regional priorities. It also outlined some key highlights of the SAB’s work during the year, which had included a focus upon a range of themes and awareness campaigns. 

There have been no Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) undertaken in Northumberland during this reporting year, however a number of new case referrals have been considered, and two learning reviews have commenced.  

It was noted that this would be the final Annual report of the North Tyneside and Northumberland Safeguarding Adults Board. 

 In response to member questions the following information was provided:

·       Northumberland had experienced an increase in safeguarding concerns and in safeguarding enquiries, but this was in line with other areas of the county.  Northumberland continued to benchmark against others.  Both nationally and regionally safeguarding boards were seeing similar trends, and many had identified the same key priorities.

·       There had been surges in activity relating to Covid including self-neglect, isolation, domestic violence and mental health issues.

·       There had been a focus on understanding the impact of the pandemic on local safeguarding activity enabling a response to changing safeguarding needs, identifying lessons learnt and informing future planning and priorities both regionally and nationally.

·       The main location of abuse had again been within people’s own homes, though there had been an increase in safeguarding reports related to nursing or Care homes.  

·       Safety in nursing and care homes remained a top priority.  It was reassuring to see those risks and actions being addressed and showed that any concerns were being looked into and taken very seriously.  Partnership work with other agencies was crucial to provide an overall picture of any concerns taking place in homes.  

·       All concerns raised regarding nursing and care home were recorded.  This included issues on personal care and hygiene. This ensured information could be shared, any patterns quickly identified include historic concerns.  Making safeguarding personal continued to be a key priority.  Northumberland also carried out unannounced visits and inspections to nursing and care homes.

·       The MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) had been extremely effective in providing a multi-agency response in Northumberland, enabling quick action in responding to safeguarding concerns.

·       Much of the work done in Northumberland had been recognised as good practice nationally.

·       The case studies were interesting and showed that people were more aware and open to reporting issues.  A lot of work had been done to raise awareness.  There was a safeguarding adults training programme and lots of guidance documents regarding self-neglect.  Campaigns took place throughout the year.  An animation had been recently produced aimed at the public and volunteers.  These were available on the Safeguarding Adults website.

RESOLVED that the content of the North Tyneside and Northumberland Safeguarding Adults Annual report 2021/22 be noted.