Agenda item

To submit a report by the Director of Social Services.

 Submitted – a report by the Director of Social Services in respect of the above.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Social Services reported that the Annual Report provides an overview of the work of both the North Wales Children and the North Wales Adult Safeguarding Boards from April 2018 to March 2019 and the progress made in delivering the key objectives across the region to safeguard people.  She expressed that the North Wales Safeguarding Board is a Regional Safeguarding Board.

The Director of Social Services reported that as part of the Council’s Corporate Priorities the Council believes that every child and adult has the right to be safe from harm.  One of the responsibilities of the North Wales Regional Safeguarding Board is to ensure that each North Wales local authority safeguards the people that live in their respective County.  The Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 provides the statutory framework for Social Care in Wales.  The Safeguarding Boards (General) (Wales) Regulations 2015 relate to setting up and the function of the Safeguarding Boards.  Regulation 5 and 6 relate to the making of Annual Plans and Annual Reports by Safeguarding Boards.  He noted that Welsh Government Working Together to Safeguard People Guidance, states that the objectives of a Safeguarding Children Board are to protect children within its area who are experiencing, or are at risk of abuse, neglect or other kinds of harm and to prevent children within its area from becoming at risk of abuse, neglect or other kinds of harm. The objectives of a Safeguarding Adults’ Board are to protect adults within its area who have needs for care and support (whether or not a local authority is meeting any of those needs), and are experiencing, or are at risk of, abuse or neglect and to prevent those adults within its area becoming at risk of abuse or neglect.  These objectives within the Regional Safeguarding Board are relevant not only to local authorities but all partner agencies within North Wales.

The Director of Social Services further referred to the priorities noted within the Annual Report for 2018/19 and 2019/20 to the Committee.  He referred to the key achievements of the Safeguarding Boards during 2018/19 and reported that a community of practice event was established to bring services together and to share good practice, challenges and research with professionals from different agencies. A safeguarding video was launched ‘See Something /Say Something’; which is available on the Safeguarding Board’s website and is available for local agencies to use.  He noted that the Safeguarding Board has a large attendance list and the increasing demands, complexity and expectations on all the agencies involved in safeguarding is extensive.  

The Committee considered the report and raised the following matters:-

·      Reference was made that the Safeguarding Board and Sub-Groups has an extensive membership and clarification was sought as to the attendance of multi-agencies of these meetings.  The Director of Social Services responded that attendance within the Board and Sub-Groups has improved.  He further said that achievement by the Sub-Groups is extensive and considered that since the establishment of the Safeguarding Board he considered that safeguarding issues have had a much higher profile in North Wales;

·      Clarification was sought as to whether the Health Trust is taking responsibility within the Safeguarding Board.  The Director of Social Services responded that there are examples over the last two years when the Health Trust has had to respond to difficult issues associated with safeguarding as was faced at a Mental Health Unit in North Wales.  The Health Board became accountable for the action plan to the North Wales Board;

·      Reference was made to the launch of the ‘See Something /Say Something’ by the Safeguarding Board.  Questions were raised as to whether the public confidentiality is protected in reporting incidents.  The Director of Social Services responded that there is whistleblowing policy for staff Members within the Authority and a similar protection is given to persons to report incidents without the fear of victimisation.

It was RESOLVED to note the information contained within the North Wales Safeguarding Board Annual Report 2018/19. 

ACTION : As note above.