Agenda item

The Overview and Scrutiny Board received and considered the Oldham Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB) Annual Report 2019/20.  The OSAB comprises the local authority, Oldham CCG and Greater Manchester Police, as the three statutory partners, and a number of other organisations who work to provide assurance that they are working together to protect and enable adults to live safely.  The production of an annual report is a statutory duty and sets out the safeguarding concerns the Board has dealt over the last year, along with the actions it has taken to help keep adults safe in Oldham.

The Annual Report provided information on the number and type of safeguarding concerns reported in Oldham during 2019/20 and presented an update on the five Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) undertaken.  The Board has a legal duty to carry out a SAR if it believes that someone in Oldham has died of, or experienced, serious abuse or neglect which could have been prevented.  For each SAR the Board adopted the recommendations put forward by the independent reviewer and oversaw changes to services designed to prevent similar cases happening again.  The Annual Report reflected what had been done to ensure that the lessons learnt from these Reviews have shaped and improved the way services work in Oldham. 

During 2019/20 a total of 1,580 safeguarding referrals were recorded for residents in Oldham, of which 556 became the subject of a formal safeguarding Enquiry.  In addition, 1,543 safeguarding referrals and enquiries were dealt with and closed, which was almost double the number closed in the previous year.  This was significant as 48% of the cases were complex, involving people who lacked capacity to make their own decisions.  There had been a reported increase in the number of safeguarding concerns relating to self-neglect and domestic violence, with some of the increase coinciding with the Covid-19 lockdown as families found it harder to access services and support.

Members considered the breakdown provided in respect of safeguarding cases arising in 2019/20.  It was noted that the 602 cases involving those aged 85+ years appeared high when compared with 772 cases in the 18-64 years category and queried whether the 85+ years cases related to care home residents.  It was acknowledged the figure did appear high, but not all related to a safeguarding issue, for example a number related to quality of care issues such as falls or administration of medicines, or the hospital might refer patients who appeared unkempt.  Such cases were considered and referred on to Social Workers or other agencies as appropriate.  The increasing number of referrals reflected a greater awareness of safeguarding generally and the Service would look to resolve any issues raised with it.

The holding of four Learning Reviews in 2019/20 compared to one in the previous year was queried, it being asked if this suggested that things were not going according to plan.  It was advised that where referred cases do not meet the legal requirements for a formal SAR but the Board feels there are lessons to be learnt, it can carry out a Learning Review.  This could be an matter of training or of raising awareness of issues that could prevent re-occurrence or escalation.  Recommendations and action plans were developed from each Learning Review undertaken, with progress against these being monitored and reported back to the Board.

Further detail was sought as to the role of the Police during the Covid-19 period in respect of the domestic violence element of safeguarding, it being noted that the Police had said this issue was quiet over the early stages of lockdown.  The Board was advised that the Police and the Safeguarding Team had worked closely over the Covid-19 period, with weekly meetings being held in the first instance.  It was confirmed that over the initial stages of lockdown the number of referrals had dropped so work had been undertaken to identify those at high risk and to put in protective measures.  There was a concern as to hidden domestic violence during this period and a number of on-line sessions had been offered where people could seek support or make contact.  The number of domestic violence referrals had, other than in the early stages of lockdown, remained consistent.

The breakdown of 2019/20 referrals by ethnicity showing 81% originated from the White British community and 9% from Asian/Asian British community was queried, for example was this disparity as a result of Covid-19, non-reporting and was it the same as previous years.  It was noted that there had always been disproportionate reporting of safeguarding concerns, some of which could be due to under-reporting.  Work had been undertaken since March 2020 with partners and faith groups and increased referrals were the outcome.  It was expected the figures would be different in the following Annual Report.  It was suggested that the Board might assist in the consideration of this issue.

It was noted that abuse in a person’s own home was the largest location of origin for safeguarding referrals, and the nature of these was queried.  The Board was advised that these cases arose as a result of, for example, domestic violence, concerns from the community, concerns of GPs that might relate to the taking of medication etc.  Reports of financial or emotional abuse was dealt with through the Safeguarding Team and measures put in place to protect the vulnerable adult.  A breakdown of the nature and types of safeguarding referrals would be forwarded to Board Members. 

Concern was expressed at the number of referrals originating from care homes, which was the second highest source of referrals, and it was queried whether this showed a particular problem.  It was advised that not all referrals were found to be safeguarding issues but could relate to matters such as falls or mis-management of medicines.  This might reflect staffing issues in a sector with a high turnover of staff and work was being undertaken with the CCG to identify any training opportunities that might be developed or offered.  While this was acknowledged, it was suggested presentation needed to be clearer as it could cause worry for anyone viewing the figures without such clarification.

In response to queries, examples of awareness campaigns run by the Safeguarding Team had included work with Age Concern to raise awareness of elder abuse and work to identify child abuse.  It was acknowledged that the success of this training and awareness raising was increasing referrals and that, with regard to capacity to cope, it was advised that staffing structures across social care services generally were monitored to ensure the right staff were in the right places.  While a wider look at the Team structure would commence by the end of March 2021, there was a lot of guidance coming out from the hospital with regard to processes and hospital discharges to also consider.  Deprivation of Liberty issues remained time consuming and around 50 applications were received on average each month.  The implementation of the new Liberty Protection Safeguards was now expected in April 2022, preceded by guidance in April 2021, and plans were being put in place for this.

RESOLVED that

1.            The Oldham Adults Safeguarding Board Annual Report 2019/20 and the tremendous work undertaken in the 12 month period be noted;

2.            A Task and Finish Group be established to explore issues of ethnicity and safeguarding, the terms of reference for which to be considered by the Chair and Councillor Toor.