Western Locality Adult Safeguarding

The West Locality Adult Safeguarding Board has continued to meet quarterly with representation from Adult & Community Services, Police Victim Care Centre, Commission for Social Care Inspection, Suffolk Mental Health Partnership Trust, Learning Disability Partnership Board, Havebury Housing, Domestic Violence Forum; Mencap and Suffolk Family Carers. With such a cross section of professionals representing a similarly diverse group of agencies, there has often been ‘lively’ debates about inter-agency working, policies, procedures and practices in adult safeguarding. There remains an under representation from the Voluntary Sector which hopefully will be addressed during the forthcoming year.

There has been a marked increase in referrals both via the police through their reporting arrangements and via direct referrals to Enhanced Customer First. Whilst these have predominantly resulted in a single agency response from ACS, all have required a joint strategy consultation between Adult and Community Services and Police Victim Care officers to determine whether criminal acts may have taken place and to consider what appropriate course of action is required to ensure the safety and well being of the person being referred. The positive joint working between the Victim Care Centre and Adult and Community Services continues to provide a sound base for the continuing development of effective Adult Safeguarding in the West Locality. Due to the nature of the increasing complexity of some of the referrals, the County Council’s Legal Services are being called upon regularly to advise or attend Legal Strategy Meetings and Case Conferences.This only serves to enhance the quality of the safeguarding measures and Protection Plan, which are agreed.

Throughout the year awareness raising sessions in relation to the Adult Safeguarding Board’s policies and procedures and the need for good practice in Adult Safeguarding have been undertaken with the following: St Nicolas Hospice staff and volunteers, Havebury Housing Scheme Manager’s, West Locality Area Libraries Management Team, Suffolk Mental Health Partnership Trust Community Nurses Team and Assertive Outreach Team,West Suffolk Hospital Social Work Team, Craigmoor Physical and Learning Disabilities Service Managers,West Locality Learning Disability Forum, Chestnut House Respite Service Team,ACS West Homefirst Team Leaders, Davers Court Residential Home Senior Team, Place Court Residential Home Senior Team, Ixworth Court Very Sheltered Housing Senior Team and West Locality Adult and Community Services Team Managers.

Further sessions are planned with West Suffolk Hospital Modern Matrons, Mid Suffolk Housing Scheme Managers and St. Edmundsbury Domestic Violence Forum.

Geoff Meech,ASM Bury St Edmunds