Issue - meetings

This report informs the Executive Member of the work of the Safeguarding Adults Board for City of York and North Yorkshire as set out in its annual report and the key issues relating to Safeguarding and informs Members of the decision by the Board to move to separate arrangements for York and North Yorkshire from October 2008.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

                      i.            Comment on the work of the Safeguarding Adults Board and the issues highlighted in this report and, in particular, the move to a new Safeguarding Adults Board for York

                    ii.            Become a member of the Safeguarding Adults Board for York

                  iii.            Endorse the recruitment of additional staff to strengthen safeguarding arrangements in York

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:  That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON: To ensure that the City of York Council is in a position to meet its safeguarding responsibilities towards vulnerable adults in the city.

Members considered a report which informed them of the work of the Safeguarding Adults Board for City of York and North Yorkshire as set out in its annual report and the key issues relating to Safeguarding. Members were informed of the decision by the Board to move to separate arrangements for York and North Yorkshire from October 2008.

Members were informed that officers from the Commission for Social Care Inspection were unable to attend the meeting to discuss the results of the Older Peoples Inspection and it was agreed that this item be deferred until the next meeting due to be held on 20^th October 2008.¹

Officers informed Members that the proposal for York was to form a new Safeguarding Board for York.  This would have membership from the same key statutory agencies (LA, PCT, Police) but would bring in representatives who were more focussed on York.  The Board would be having its first meeting in October which would cover the interim report on safeguarding activity on the first six months of the year and the next annual report. These reports would focus solely on York.

Officers stated that additional staff would be required to strengthen the safeguarding arrangements for York and proposed the appointments of 2 Managers and an Administrative post.  Members noted that these additional appointments could go ahead without seeking additional funding.

Members discussed the key forms of abuse and agreed that the increase in the number of referrals regarding physical and financial abuse had risen due to  raised awareness. Some Members showed concerns regarding the financial abuse in the older population and officers stated that they had received 29 financial abuse cases last year of which 22 were of the older population.

The Executive Member discussed the importance of safeguarding adults the same way as safeguarding children and informed Members that she was a member of the Safeguarding Adults Board.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

1. comment on the work of the Safeguarding Adults Board and the issues highlighted in this report and, in particular, the move to a new Safeguarding Adults Board for York
2. become a member of the Safeguarding Adults Board for York
3. endorses the recruitment of additional staff to strengthen safeguarding arrangements in York.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:  That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON: To ensure that the City of York Council is in a position to meet its safeguarding responsibilities towards vulnerable adults in the city.