To consider the submitted report on the above.

The Board received and noted the Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership (TDSAP) Annual Report 2024–25, which set out safeguarding activity, partnership arrangements and key learning under the Care Act 2014. Members noted the continued strategic leadership role of the Partnership across Torbay and Devon, supported by an independent Chair and multi?agency membership, and the shift towards a more outcome?focused approach over the next three years.

Members noted Devon recorded an increase in safeguarding concerns and Section 42 enquiries, while Torbay saw a reduction in both. It was noted that Torbay’s data does not present as an outlier when compared nationally. Members were reminded that Devon data could not currently be relied upon as a direct comparator due to historic operational and data?recording issues. Members were advised that the Partnership continued to monitor data trends closely through the Performance and Quality Assurance Sub?Group.

Members noted that the majority of safeguarding enquiries continue to relate to adults with care and support needs living in their own homes. There has been a corresponding reduction in care?home?based enquiries. The TDSAP Chair advised that the most common types of risk remain self?neglect, neglect and acts of omission, and psychological abuse. It was clarified that self?neglect data includes hoarding behaviours and an inability to manage the home environment. Members acknowledged funding recently awarded to voluntary sector partners, including Citizen Advice and Age UK, to support work around hoarding, and noted the important role of Fire and Rescue Services in managing fire risk through staged, long?term engagement approaches.

An overview of Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) completed during the year was provided. Five SARs were published in 2024–25, with recurring themes including mental health, self?neglect, substance misuse and challenges in applying the Mental Capacity Act (2005). Members noted the consistent learning around professional disagreement on mental capacity, particularly in cases of self?neglect, and the need to better understand executive capacity and decision?making ability. Concerns were raised that professionals may rely too heavily on the Mental Capacity Act without considering wider legal frameworks such as the Care Act or Mental Health Act. It was emphasised that disagreements about capacity should prompt a formal, multi?disciplinary assessment, and that professionals can refer into safeguarding to ensure this process was undertaken.

Training and workforce development were discussed. Members raised concerns about reliance on e?learning and the lack of assurance that learning was fully understood and embedded in practice. It was acknowledged that e?learning serves a basic awareness function but that face?to?face training, shared learning and discussion of real cases are often more effective, particularly for safeguarding and mental capacity. The TDSAP Chair acknowledged the need to perhaps improve the visibility and marketing of the training provided by the Safeguarding Board. The Partnership had identified an ongoing issue around legal literacy and the importance of continuous professional development to maintain high standards of legal understanding.

The Divisional Director of Adult Social Care clarified advocacy arrangements noting that advocacy was used across the safeguarding system at an operational level where appropriate, depending on the individual’s circumstances and the specific context of capacity and decision?making.

Members discussed reporting pathways and thresholds under the Care Act. All concerns should be reported into Adult Social Care, with the subsequent assessment determining whether Section 42 safeguarding duties were triggered and what outcomes were required. It was confirmed that safeguarding concerns arising in an individual’s own home were reported by a mixture of professionals and family members, in line with national patterns.

The Board noted the agreed TDSAP strategic priorities for 2025–27: seeking assurance on practice improvement in key risk areas, embedding learning from SARs into frontline practice, and improving awareness, engagement and inclusion, particularly within harder?to?reach communities.

Actions agreed:

1)    TDSAP Chair to share with the Clerk for wider dissemination links to available face?to?face safeguarding and mental capacity training, including details of costs and access arrangements.