ROCHDALE BOROUGH SAFEGUARDING ADULTS BOARD (RBSAB)

Minutes of the RBSAB Meeting held on Monday 27th January 2014 from 1.00 – 4.00 pm

Committee Room 2, Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale

Chair:

Andy Searle Interim Independent Chair of RBSAB

Present:

Pauline AndersonSaeed Anwar

Head of Nursing For The Division of Medicine, Pennine Acute Health TrustManager, Rochdale Healthwatch

Martin Barber Community Safety Manager (Bury, Oldham, Rochdale), GM Fire & Rescue ServiceSandra Bruce Service Manager, Children’s Safeguarding Unit, RMBCKym BuckleySheila Downey

Equality Advisor, HMP Buckley HallDirector, RMBC Adult Care

Andrew GibsonCllr Jean HornbyTricia HornbyDr Paul LakerHelena LeydenAlistair MallenCllr Donna MartinKaren McCormickWendy MestonJulie PlattCllr Billy Sheerin

Enforcement Team Manager, Rochdale Boroughwide HousingElected Member (portfolio holder for Adult Care), RMBCChief Executive, Rochdale & District Mind (Advocacy Service)Vice Chair, NHS HMR CCGHead of Safeguarding & Professional Leadership, Pennine Care NHS Foundation TrustSuperintendent, GM PoliceElected Member(Children Services portfolio holder), RMBCAdult Safeguarding Clinical Lead, Pennine Care NHS Foundation TrustDirector, Public Health, RMBCHead of Offender Management, HM PrisonsElected Member, (Deputy Adult Care portfolio holder) RMBC

Jeanette StaleyJane TimsonJean Turton

Guests:

Safer Communities Manager, RMBCHead of Safeguarding and Practice Assurance, RMBC Adult CareManager, Archmoor Care Limited, Rochdale Care Home Association

Helen HeatonGlenys JacksPamela Wharton

Team Manager, RMBC Adult CareAssessment & Support Planner, RMBC Adult Care (observer)Head of Practice Improvement, RMBC Children Social Care

Apologies:

Anne Butterfield Senior Solicitor, RMBC Legal Services (deputy for Jennifer Moss)Anne Carswell Interim Assistant Director - Older People & Physical Disabilities, Adult Care, RMBCNigel ElliotVera Hirst

Acting Assistant Chief Executive, GMPTOlder People’s User/Carer Forum and Age UK representative

Jon Longden Head of Access & Tenancy Support, Rochdale Boroughwide HomesJennifer Moss Principal Council Solicitor, RMBC Legal ServicesAlison Murphy Probation Operations Manager, GMPTGrace Wall NHS England

RBSAB Business Unit:

Bilal Choudhury RBSAB Administrator, RBSAB Business Unit (minute taker)Lesley Foylan Quality Assurance Officer, RBSAB Business UnitCarl Travis Development Worker RBSAB Business Unit

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AGENDAITEM NOTES ACTION

1 Apologies

Apologies were noted.

2 Introductions

Introductions were made around the table.

3 Minutes of the last meeting held on 21 st October 2013

The Minutes were noted and accepted as a true record.

4 Matters Arising (if not on Agenda)

Chair of the Board:At the previous meeting it was agreed the position for the chair of the board will need to be formally appointed. The advertisement for the Chair position will be going out soon and Jane Timson will be updating the group at the next board meeting on progress.

Domestic Abuse Rochdale Profile & Strategy:Comments made by board members regarding the Domestic Abuse Strategy have been passed onto Ian Halliday, RSCP The strategy will be circulated to the group once finalised

Rochdale Borough Substance Misuse Strategy:The Community Drugs and Alcohol Outreach Team (CDAOT) are providing training to professionals and volunteers in Drugs and Alcohol Awareness. The training is 1½ hours and takes place at Renaissance House, 72 Drake Street on the last Thursday of each month. The aim of the course is to introduce the different types of drugs and their effects and to increase knowledge of treatment for users. To book a place, contact CDAOT on 01706 924887.

CIPOLD Report HMR/CCG/Adult Care:Karen McCormick will provide an update for the next board meeting regarding what is known about individuals with learning disabilities at GP level.

RBSAB Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy and Procedures Review: Jane Timson held a Task and Finish Group on 5th December 2013 but all external partners gave their apologies. A second meeting took place on 17th January 2014 where it was agreed it would be difficult to update the policies and procedures by ‘committee’ as this would take too long. The group agreed a worker will be allocated a section to review and then the group will review the changes before each section is sent out to a wider audience for consultation. An action plan is has been drawn up to manage the work.

Jane Timson

Karen McCormick

Jane Timson

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Safeguarding Adult Activity Information/ 0845 tel numbers:Andy Searle has written to Jim Taylor (Chief Executive, RMBC) regarding the concerns that members of the public may be put off making safeguarding alerts using the 0845 number due to the perceived cost. Jane Timson confirmed that she had received an acknowledgment but not yet received a response. Sheila Downey mentioned that Linda Fisher (Deputy Chief Executive, RMBC) is leading on this issue on a corporate level and will update on progress at the next meeting.

Workforce Development Group (WDG):Andy Searle stated that the Workforce Development Group has not been able to progress as only 4 organisations have agreed to participate. Confirmed participants so far are:

Fiona Nuttall (Learning and Development Lead, RMBC) Jane Timson (RMBC) Sharon Cooper (Rochdale Boroughwide Housing) Martin Barber (GM Fire and Rescue Service) Karen McCormick (Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust)

Helena Leyden flagged that Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust covers 12 safeguarding boards across Greater Manchester and it would be difficult to release staff for any other meetings.

Alistair Mallen questioned whether it would feasible to merge the children’s board WDG with the adult’s board sub-group. A discussion took place but it was agreed it would be difficult and not practical at this time due to the current Children’s Board improvement agenda and that the two boards have different priorities.

It was agreed to establish the WFD group by setting a date for the first meeting and each Board member was asked by the Chair to provide a named representative for the group. Jane Timson to update progress at the next meeting.

Strike Action:Sheila Downey confirmed there are no plans for the time being of any strike to take place by the learning disabilities provider (Future Direction).

Sheila Downey

Jane Timson

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5 Board Membership

Andy Searle asked Board members whether there are any groups that are not represented at this meeting that should be included. No other organisation was identified.

There are still a number of individuals who have not signed the Board Membership agreement form. It was agreed that Bilal will send the form to those board members who have not yet signed the membership agreement.

Bilal Choudhury

6 RBSAB Business Unit Update

Jane Timson reported:

The three new members of staff for the RBSAB Business Unit are now in post and have been working on the following tasks Since November 2013:

RBSAB Website: Identifying viability and options for RBSAB. Partnership Forum: Identifying venue, setting dates for the year,

inviting guests and publicising the forum. Policies and procedures: Researching pan GM and Tri.X options

and writing a report for the Board. Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SAR): Researching systems and

hybrid methodologies as an alternative to a SAR. Organising elected members training on safeguarding adults. Newsletters: Researching good examples of other Board’s

newsletters and putting together draft content for a RBSAB one. Children and Adults Safeguarding Event in June 2014: Sourcing

venue and actors for role play and contributing to planning. The theme of the event will be family.

Dignity Action Day: Publicising Dignity Action Day and encouraging organisations to mark the event.

Hard to reach groups: Researching communities and how to access them.

Service user involvement: Researching ADASS expectations and good practice from other Boards nationally.

Made contact with Oldham Safeguarding Adults Boards and will attend sub-groups as an observer.

Strategy and action plan: Redesigning layout so the strategy is more user friendly and contributing to 2014-15 strategy.

Consent form: Created a draft consent form for case studies. Developing a Quality Assurance Framework: Self-assessment

has been drawn up and now collating information from partner agencies and what this means in relation to safeguarding.

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7 RBSAB Funding 2014/15

Jane Timson confirmed that invoices have been sent out to CCG and RBH for contributory funding to RBSAB but, at this time, there are no other contributing partners.

Andy Searle has met with Tony Lloyd (Police Crime Commissioner) and discussed whether RBSAB would be offered any funding from the police but no commitment could be offered. The GM Police are waiting for their budgetary position to be confirmed following the current cuts to the police force. It has not yet been established what the mandatory contribution from GMP to LSCB for 2014/15 will be.

Sheila Downey raised that the Care Bill will make it statutory for multiagency partners to work together in relation to adult safeguarding and it is hoped that guidance will be given on the funding levels that partners would be expected to provide as the draft Care Bill references that funding will need to be provided by partner agencies.

Jeanette Staley mentioned Rochdale Safer Community Partnership will be awarded funding by the Police and Crime Commissioner to deal with domestic abuse and cohesion work but it is unclear how much, as the budget is not fixed.

Wendy Meston flagged whether it may be worthwhile approaching the NHS Commissioning Board for potential funding and ways of engaging with the Board. Andy Searle agreed that it would be useful to make contact to discuss funding and engagement opportunities.

Andy Searle/Jane

Timson

8 Joint Information Sharing/Working Agreement Protocol Between RSCP and RBSAB

Jeanette Staley presented a document entitled ‘a Working Agreement Protocol between the RSCP, RBSCB, RBSAB and Health and Wellbeing Board’ for discussion as part of consultation. The document clarifies the relationship between the boards and confirms the function, roles and responsibilities across these partnerships in relation to cross cutting areas of work Andy Searle requested that the wording ‘adults at risk’ is amended to ‘person who is or maybe in need of community care’ as defined by ‘No Secrets’ (2000).

The Board agreed the document should be adopted.

9 Hate/Mate Crime

Helen Heaton, Team Manager for Learning Disabilities, Adult Care provided a presentation on Mate Crime which covered:

How vulnerable people / adults at risk with a learning disability are being exploited by members of the community even though they are not committing any criminal offence.

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What the signs are to spot mate crime.

There is a third reporting centre at Chichester Street, managed by the Learning Disability Team but to date there has been no Mate or Hate crime reports as members of the public are not aware of this service.

The learning disabilities team provides support and develops plans for vulnerable people who are or may be victims of mate crime.

Helen is attending a number of different meetings to raise awareness of mate crime.

Hate Crime: Jeanette Staley discussed the document entitled EHRC’s ‘out in

the open’ - A manifesto for Change. This is a Government response to hate crime that makes recommendations for action that needs to be taken.

Jeanette shared with the Board the first draft of the RSCP strategic plan for Hate Crime and asked for input from partners to build on this draft,

Jane Timson flagged whether there is any training being provided to improve a better understanding of Mate Crime. Jeanette Staley to liaise with Wendy Meston.

Third party hate crime reporting centres have been established for victims or members of the public to report any crimes relating to race, disability and sexual orientation if those individuals that did not have the confidence to go to the police or wish to remain anonymous but it is recognised that work needs to be done to publicise these.

Jeanette Staley would like representatives from adult safeguarding team and the children safeguarding team to work with RSCP to help identify issues where there are cases involving both hate crime and safeguarding. Jane Timson and Sandra Bruce agreed to identify suitable representatives.

Cyber bullying though social networking is addressed through schools. It was highlighted that this also affects adults and a programme of awareness raising is also therefore needed for adults at risk. It was agreed that this needed to be added to the action plan.

Tricia Hornby asked how she would find out where third party reporting centres are within Rochdale, as she was aware that a few centres had been identified and was sure that Rochdale and District Mind was one but had not received any information about

Jeanette Staley

JaneTimson /Sandra Bruce

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this role for considerable time. Jeanette Staley confirmed that she is looking at local arrangements.

Further work is needed to complete the Hate Crime Action plan and all partners are asked to send Jeanette Staley any further actions that they would wish to see on the plan.

Jeanette Staley

10 Photographic Evidence in Investigation

Jane Timson reported:

Whether RBSAB would wish to consider the use of photographic evidence as part of safeguarding enquiries as the police and hospitals do use photographic evidence as part of for their investigations. The current policy and procedures rely on paper body maps which do not provide reliable evidence.

Pauline Anderson stated that Pennine Acute has strict guidelines about when to use photographic evidence with patients, for example, if there are suspicions that a patient has been bruised through abuse, photographic evidence may be used.

Helena Leyden stated photographic evidence can only be used on patients if they give consent. Usually if abuse is suspected and the patient is a vulnerable adult, then it would usually be the police that would be responsible for taking any photographs.

Andy Searle suggested that the use of photographic evidence should be discussed at the next Safeguarding Adult Review Group and to consider providing guidelines on the use of photographic evidence. Jane Timson to report on progress at the next board meeting.

Jane Timson

11 CQC Document ‘CQC fresh start for regulations and inspection of Adult Social Care

The CQC document is provided for information purposes.

12 RBSAB Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy and Procedures Review

Jane Timson Reported:

She asked if the Board would consider, in principle, whether the

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board would be interested in joining together with other GM Authorities to commission and adopt a common, pan-Greater Manchester Adult at Risk Safeguarding policy and procedure and if so, whether the Board would consider, in principle, if they would be interested in co- commissioning with other GM Boards a company to provide these- these would be available online and the policies are updated automatically to incorporated any national guidelines.

A private company called Tri.X could be commissioned to write a full set of Adult Safeguarding policies and procedures and provide regular updates.

RBSCB is part of a consortium with other GM Children boards which use Tri.X.

The advantages include:1. A common policy and procedure will be beneficial for our partners

who work across different local authorities.

2. Tri.X will provide regular updates taking into consideration changes in legislation and government policy. RBSAB’s policy and procedures will therefore never be out of date.

3. Writing policies and procedures is a specialised skill and is time-consuming. There are considerable savings in terms of staff time in out-sourcing this work.

4. This approach ensures consistency within the Borough as the RBSCB already works with the nine other local authorities in Manchester to engage Tri.X to provide their procedures.

5. Periodic updates will ensure all partners are regularly reminded of the importance of Safeguarding.

The dis-advantages include:1. Variances in local practice will need to be taken into

consideration.

2. There will be staff time implications, as RMBC staff will need to join a consortium to work with Tri.X to progress this work.

3. Ongoing updates will need to be disseminated to staff, with potential implications for training.

4. Cost: Children’s Safeguarding consortium in Greater Manchester was in the region of £20,000 initial cost and £9,000 per year maintenance (£2,000 setup costs and £900 per year for each of the ten local Boards).

Alistair Mallen mentioned Tri.X has provided Policies andProcedures in relation to adult safeguarding for pan-Lancashire

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and Cumbria and found them accessible and useful.

The Board agreed in principal to the two proposals.

Timescales are not known but it is possible that it may take as long as 18 months to go live, due to the number of different boards that would need to be involved in commissioning the work, which would include securing the finance and training for all organisations.

Andy suggested that the GM consortium, once established, may want to consider recruiting a coordinator to oversee the work.RBSAB agreement to be communicated to the GM Safeguarding Leads network.

Jane Timson

13 Safeguarding Adults Activity Information

The Safeguarding adult activity information Q3 report is not available to present to the Board. There has been a change in personnel as the person who used to provide the report has changed roles. The Q3 report does not look right and the data source and is being investigated for accuracy. Jane Timson to email the report to the board members when it is available.

Jane Timson

14 MCA/DOLS Update - Q3

Jane Timson reported:

• The number of DOLS requests for authorisations in Q3 has almost doubled and is actually higher than the numbers received in Q1 and Q2 combined.

• At the end of Q3, the total requests for the year stands at 30 requests. These are all from care homes. The total number of requests for the whole of 2012/13 was 25. It is believed that the increase is due to the recruitment of the new MCA DOLS Co-ordinator who came into post in April and is making links with various managing authorities to raise awareness.

• There have been no requests received from hospitals this quarter.

• There has been a request received for a review of a DOLS authorisation from a Relevant Persons Representative this quarter. This is the 1st time such a request has been received, and this is encouraging news.

• Pauline Anderson expressed that she is not concerned that

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Pennine Acute have not made any MCA DOLS request applications as she believes there are robust safeguarding information sharing processes in place at the hospitals and is confident that potential deprivations would be recognised. This was challenged by the Chair, who stated that he was aware that there had been no requests received by Oldham Adult Care either and this drop seemed surprising. Pauline Anderson agreed to revisit and check the situation within Pennine Acute.

• It was highlighted that there has never been a MCA DOLS application request from the older people mental health wards at Birch Hill Hospital, which raised questions about awareness and compliance with the MCA DOLS legislation. It was suggested that the Adult Care MCA DOLS coordinator (Kate Hilt) should make contact with Helena Leyden to improve links between the Older People MH wards and Adult Care as Supervisory Body and provide an update at the next board meeting.

Pauline Anderson

Helena Leyden

15 SAR Group Report

Jane Timson reported:

Report and Update on Action PlanThere is one outstanding action under outcome 5 (Partnerships work together and are held to account) - ‘Strategic dignity work plan is held accountable to the board’, which Age UK are leading on. Jane Timson reported that she had met with Paul Gala of Age UK last week and work is underway on this action.

Learning the lesson Report and Action Plan:This report is in relation to Mr W. which was felt not to meet the criteria for a SCR, but the Safeguarding Adult Review Group felt there were lessons to be learned, a review panel met on numerous occasions to examine the case, and agencies were asked to submit chronologies and individual agency action plans. The overall report has now been completed and been sent to the panel members to agree the joint actions. Once agreed, work will commence on the joint actions before the next board meeting. Jane Timson will present the learning from the review and progress against identified actions at the next board meeting.

SAR Request Screening:This is a case involving an individual at a care home where the care worker gave the wrong medication in error and subsequently, the individual died. A SAR screening panel was held and it was agreed that no multi agency failure could be identified and an SAR therefore did not need to be commissioned. However, a safeguarding case conference was held recently which upheld an allegation of institutional and physical abuse. This now raises questions whether there is more evidence for the screening panel to consider. Cllr Martin suggested that the panel may have been held too early and should have waited until after the case

Jane Timson

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conference. Jane Timson responded that this may indeed have been the case in this particular scenario, but did not believe policy and procedures should be prescriptive about when to hold the panel, as if there are lessons to be learnt, these should be identified as soon as possible.

The death has been referred to the Coroners Court and the inquest is due at the end of February. Case notes from Adult Care have been submitted to the Coroners Court in preparation for the inquest. Jane Timson will further report at the next Board meeting.

Draft Threshold Guidance:

The draft threshold guidance document provides guidance when making decisions about safeguarding concerns and when to progress through the safeguarding investigation process and when other processes may be more appropriate, such as a care management review, or a commissioning review of practice. The guidance is designed to help provide consistent proportionate decision making. The document has been shared quite widely.

There were a number of Board members who expressed confusion on reading the threshold document as to whom the document was aimed at and whether the document would actually prevent an individual from actually making a safeguarding alert.

Pauline Anderson flagged that Pennine Acute are already using their own version of a matrix threshold guidance for use to assist staff to understand when they should be reporting incidents as safeguarding alerts and did not feel that this threshold guidance document would be suitable for sue within PAHT.

Helena Leyden also stated that Pennine Care have their own threshold guidance document.

Sheila Downey was of the view that the document would be of use internally at Adult Care to assist Managers with safeguarding decision making but did not feel the guidance should be distributed widely and it needed to be made clearer in the document, who the guidance was aimed at.

Andy Searle was concerned if Pennine Acute and Pennine Care have their own separate policies on safeguarding alerts, then agencies are not working together in adherence to the Multi Agency Policy and Procedures. It was agreed Helena Leyden and Pauline Anderson would send their organisation’s safeguarding alert guidance to Jane Timson to review.

It was agreed to revisit / review this document, it was recognised that threshold guidance can be of great benefit but also be too prescriptive and a balance was required, this issue is not unique to Rochdale but the

Jane Timson

Helena Leyden / Pauline

Anderson

JaneTimson

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RBSAB was making efforts to give that guidance, work in progress.

16 Communication & Publicity Group

Tricia Hornby / Jane Timson reported:

Report and update on Action Plan: Only a few actions are yet to be completed, which includes

identifying hard to reach groups and how to improve service userrepresentation.

Andy Searle asked whether we were on track in relation to the action ‘Establish working relationship and information sharing protocol with Health and wellbeing board’ Jane Timson reported that the lead for this task is Sarah Shanks (RMBC) as she is currently responsible for setting up all information sharing protocols within Rochdale Council and Jane Timson is expecting an update form her. Wendy Meston stated that she understood that Sarah Shanks is involved in RMBC information sharing protocols and did not believe this would cover a protocol for RBSAB. Jane confirmed that she had had discussion with Sarah and completed a pro-forma to identify exactly what was needed. Sarah did not express that this was out of her remit. Jane Timson to provide an update at the next board meeting on progress.

Communication strategy: The Communication and Publicity Group met on 14th January and

made a number of amendments to the draft communication strategy, which is expected to be ready for presentation to the Board by the next meeting.

Website/logo: Jane Timson stated under the new care bill there is expectation

that information regarding SAB’s should be readily available to members of the public and that the Board will need to demonstrate transparency in its strategy and work plan.

In order to achieve this, RBSAB needs to consider developing a website to improve its ability to communicate. Three options are proposed:

1) Use existing Rochdale Council website and enhance it.2) Standalone website3) Merge with RBSCB newly developed websites.

Jane Timson discussed the advantages and dis-advantages of each of the three options (see attached powerpoint presentation).

Jane Timson

Tricia Hornby

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Jane Timson and Carl Travis met with Zen Web Solutions who created the website for RBSCB. Zen agreed that they can create a shared launch page with RBSCB and merge RBSAB website with the RBSCB one but it would cost £5,400. This will involve designing the Adult version, creating the launch page, redesign the logo for RBSAB, populate the website with RBSAB information, provide training and ongoing hosting of the site.

Jane Timson has taken the proposal to the RBSCB and they have agreed with the idea.

The Board agreed to go for option 3 but Andy Searle asked the group how the new website will be funded. Pauline Anderson stated the children’s board went through a commissioning process and it maybe something RBSAB should do. Other members expressed concern about the cost and felt it could be provided much cheaper with another company. Jane stated that as the RBSCB site was created by Zen, it would only be Zen that could provide the shared web site. A different provider would mean starting again and one had to take into account the functionality of the website.

A logo for the Board was discussed. Jane Timson suggested using the same design as RBSCB’s but change the colour and the acronym to RBSAB. All agreed to the idea.

17 Quality Assurance & Performance Group

Alistair Mallen reported:

Report and update on Action Plan: The Quality Assurance Group met on 21st January 2014 and it

was discussed that several agencies are not represented on the Group, in particular Pennine Care and Pennine Acute.

Lesley Foylan, RBSAB Quality Assurance Officer has joined the group from November 2013.

Presentation on Quality Assurance Framework & Self-Assessment:Jane Timson presented a guide to the self-assessment matrix to the Board

The self-assessment audit will allow RBSAB to monitor if agencies are fulfilling their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding adults.

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There are 7 sections for completion in the self-assessment:

1) Leadership & Accountability2) Recruitment & Selection3) Staff Induction, Training & Development4) Complaints, Allegations & Whistle Blowing5) Information Sharing, Communication & Confidentiality6) Listening to Adults7) Equality of Opportunity

There was a discussion regarding who is required to complete the self-assessment - whether it is only the organisation or services within an organisation. It was agreed it was services within organisation that need to complete the self-assessment.

Most partners of RBSAB have previously completed a section 11 audit for RBSCB and the self-assessment has been based on this assessment so it should be familiar to most. It was noted that Rochdale Healthwatch and Buckley Hall (HM Prisons) had not needed to complete the Section 11 audit and it was agreed that Lesley Foylan would meet personally with the two agencies to support them with completion of the audit.

Helena Leyden raised that Pennine Care are expected to complete numerous audits for a number of organisations and this is a drain on resources. It was recognised by the Board that the self-assessment can be time consuming but RBSAB needed to bench mark all its partner organisations. It is hoped that future joint work with RBSCB and perhaps across GM could prevent agencies that are represented on several boards having to duplicate the same work in future.

Terms of Reference:The term of reference for this group were ratified by the board.

Lesley Foylan

18 RBSAB Action Plan 2014/15

Due to time constraints this item was not discussed.

Andy Searle explained:Information will be circulated outside of Board and members were expected to engage with that process to save any delays, all agreed. ALL

19 Making Safeguarding Personal – Project Feedback

Due to time constraints this item was not discussed.

20 Rochdale Multi - Agency Screening Service

Pamela Wharton reported:

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• Rochdale Multi-agency Screening Service (MASS) is about bringing in key agencies together to share information about children and families to better inform appropriate signposting and referrals.

• Partners are working together in partnership to make multi agency decisions from the beginning.

• MASS currently receives 1000 contacts per month and 50% of those contacts require no further action.

• The service is planning to go live on Tuesday 4th February 2014.

• There is an operation group which is led by Julie Daniels and they have met on two occasions.

• MASS currently has 6 advisors week by week.

• Police and social care are the biggest contributors.

• The service is for 0 -18 year olds.

• There was discussion on how adult safeguarding should be involved with MASS, with Sheila Downey reporting that Adult Care are considering how the needs of Vulnerable adults would be best met within a MASS. There is recognition that in a troubled family, Mental Health and drug and alcohol issues are likely to feature with adult carers and parents of children and young people and it was important that information about vulnerable adults is readily accessible at the MASS. It was agreed Sheila Downey would consider implications for adult safeguarding and report back at next board meeting.

Sheila Downey

21 RBSCB Updates

Sandra Bruce reported:

• The website for the RBSCB was designed by ZEN and launched on November 2013. Zen was chosen as they have developed website for other boards.

• The board has held a development day as part of learning from aSCR in November 2013.

• There will be changes how social care and agencies work together in relation to assessment and care proceeding. A single assessment will replace the initial and core assessment. This will mean less time for assessments to be completed by multi agencies before proceeding are taken to court.

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• Lesley Foylan is actively involved with both children and adult safeguarding boards in her role as QA officer and she is gathering information to help set priorities for both Boards.

• RBSCB is working in partnership with Barnardos to present two seminars on child trafficking.

22 Operational Phoenix – Ramification for Adult Safeguarding

Due to time constraints, this item was not discussed.

Information regarding this topic had been embedded in the agenda and members were requested to read. Consideration will be given to decide if this should be an agenda item at next Board.

ALL

23 Any Other Business

None

26 Dates of Future Meetings

Monday 28th April 20141.00 - 4.00Committee Room 2, Rochdale Town Hall

Monday 21st July 20141.00 - 4.00Committee Room 2, Rochdale Town Hall

Monday 27th October 20141.00 - 4.00Committee Room 2, Rochdale Town Hall

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