To review the Adult Safeguarding Report for Torbay linking with the Torbay Safeguarding Board Annual Report.

The Divisional Director of Adult Social Care – Gary Patch, along with the Head of Safeguarding Adults, Torbay – Jon Anthony and the Independent Chair of Torbay and South Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership – Paul Northcott, provided the background to the submitted Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership Annual Report 2023/24 and an overview of the submitted Safeguarding Adults in Torbay presentation which was circulated to the Board after the meeting, and responded to questions.

Members raised the following points:

·         what action was taken to prevent ‘cuckooing’ to vulnerable residents who reside in Torbay;

·         what action was taken to assist residents where there was evidence of self neglect;

·         was the training provided to social workers, all online training or was there face to face training provided;

·         were there reports received regarding residents who may be struggling with their mental health and stating that they no longer wish to live;

·         how can the public report safeguarding concerns;

·         does the Safeguarding Team investigate abuse that residents by receiving via social media; and

·         if a resident engages with the safeguarding team and then no longer engages with the Team, how long do individual cases remain active.

The following responses were provided:

·         ‘Cuckooing’ is now classed as an offence and is a contemporary theme which had become an emerging issue.  The Safeguarding Team have developed an exploitation toolkit that can be used to provide assistance;

·         the issue of self-neglect by residents is not an easy issue to resolve.  The assistance is based around the social worker and the resident engaging with each other to build positive relationships throughout the process.  Should residents not easily engage with their social worker, a multi-agency approach can be put into place to resolve the issues as social workers do not have the power to enter residents homes;

·         all social workers have face to face training and part of the training consists of reflective group working and looking at previous case reviews to gain learning from.  The training is provided in different formats, where the team look at opportunities beyond the formal training including a successful Prevention Conference that was held in 2024;

·         for residents who may be struggling with their mental health, there is a mental capacity framework which is followed.  The assessment completed by the social worker is unique to the individual and a multi-agency approach is used to create a care plan for the resident;

·         the details of how members of the public can report safeguarding concerns are detailed on the Torbay and South Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership website see - Home - Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership New literature has been produced through coproduction and posters were being created to be displayed in various languages;

·         the Safeguarding Adults Team carry out various multi-agency approaches including working with trading standards and have good relationships with the Money Lending Team, to assist with concerns reported from residents receiving abuse through social media channels.  This assists with building and enabling partnership arrangements so that various partnerships are aware of the statutory duties of the Safeguarding Team and how to engage for assistance; and

·         there is a case management system in place which enables the Safeguarding Team to track previously reported safeguarding concerns for residents and the Team use any intelligence provided by partnership agencies to work collaboratively.

Resolved (unanimously)

1.            that the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board notes the content of the Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership Annual Report 2023/24;

2.            that the Sub-Board receive 6 monthly updates on performance from the Chair of Torbay and South Devon Safeguarding Partnership; and

3.            that the Director of Adults and Communities be requested to work with the Independent Chair of Torbay and South Devon Safeguarding Adults Board on public awareness, engagement and communication planning.