Agenda item

The following question was received:

 

This question relates to agenda item 5B HSAB annual report 2024/25

 

An Explanation and a reason why Halton Borough are in breach of the Care Act from 2022 to present date, although Halton Borough have employed a New Independent Chair in October 2024 and an Independent Scrutiny Director of Safeguarding in January 2025.  Halton Borough for the 4 years regarding safeguarding annual reports have breached the Care Act as follows: 

 

An explanation why 2 New Employers employed in October 2024 and January 2025 under new structure and hopefully different culture are still breaching care act? 

 

Supplementary question as follows :

 

The Safeguarding adults annual report is on the agenda for Tuesday 25th November meeting, to be approved. The safeguarding adults annual report has already been released in to the public domain? 

 

https://councillors.halton.gov.uk/documents/s81175/
App%201%20HSAB%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf

 

The Care Act 2014 requires each SAB to publish an annual report. Most SABs already produce annual reports, although their content and format vary. The Care Act (Schedule 2.4 (1) a – g) defines the minimum content of an annual report thus:

 

As soon as is feasible after the end of each financial year, a SAB must publish a report on:

what it has done during that year to achieve its objective,

what it has done during that year to implement its strategy,

what each member has done during that year to implement the strategy,

the findings of the reviews arranged by it under section 44 (safeguarding adults reviews) which have concluded in that year (whether or not they began in that year),

the reviews arranged by it under that section which are ongoing at the end of that year (whether or not they began in that year),

what it has done during that year to implement the findings of reviews arranged by it under that section, and

where it decides during that year not to implement a finding of a review arranged by it under that section, the reasons for its decision.

 

Safeguarding Adults Boards – Annual reports - SCIE

 (https://www.scie.org.uk/safeguarding/adults/
safeguarding-adults-boards-checklist-and-resources/
annual-reports/)

 

 

 

 

The group has considered a number of SAR referrals received and feedback provided to Halton Safeguarding Adults Board in terms of outcomes and recommendations.

 

Care Act 2014 - Explanatory Notes (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/notes/
division/5/1/10/3/4)

 

This page contains the following errors:

error on line 1 at column 2099: Extra content at the end of the document

Below is a rendering of the page up to the first error.

289.Sub-paragraph (1) requires the report to describe what the SAB has done during the year to achieve its main objective and its strategy, and how each member of the SAB has helped to implement the strategy. The findings of Safeguarding Adults Reviews concluded that year (whether or not they were started in that year) and actions taken that year in response to Safeguarding Adult Reviews must also be recorded in the annual report. That is either action taken to implement findings or, where a decision has been taken not to implement a finding, then the reason for that decision. The report must also record the total number of ongoing reviews, whether or not they were started in that year.

 

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/schedule/2/
crossheading/annual-report

 

1)As soon as is feasible after the end of each financial year, an SAB must publish a report on—

 

(a)what it has done during that year to achieve its objective,

(b)what it has done during that year to implement its strategy,

(c)what each member has done during that year to implement the strategy,

(d)the findings of the reviews arranged by it under section 44 (safeguarding adults reviews) which have concluded in that year (whether or not they began in that year),

(e)the reviews arranged by it under that section which are ongoing at the end of that year (whether or not they began in that year),

(f)what it has done during that year to implement the findings of reviews arranged by it under that section, and

(g)where it decides during that year not to implement a finding of a review arranged by it under that section, the reasons for its decision.

 

(2)The SAB must send a copy of the report to—

(a)the chief executive and the leader of the local authority which established the SAB,

(b)the local policing body the whole or part of whose area is in the local authority's area,

(c)the Local Healthwatch organisation for the local authority's area, and

(d)the chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board for that area.

(3)“Local policing body” has the meaning given by section 101 of the Police Act 1996.

 

Commencement

We are aware in 

2020 3 SARs request 

2021 3 SARs request 

2022 1 Sar request 

2023 1 SAR request 

2024 4 SAR Request 

2025 11 SAR Request 

 

As the Chair of the PPB from the following legislation care act and other policy’s provided the detail of the SAR information that has to be published in the Annual reports. 

 

The Care Act is being breached, if the figures for the SARs aren’t being published and the reasons.  For SARS being declined and no outcome from the Safeguarding adults reviews, how are the PPB Scrutinised. ( This is not my question but a major concern, 4 years later and the public are picking up on it). 

 

Response:

In respect to the question and supplementary question submitted relating to agenda item 5B, the Halton Adults Safeguarding Board Annual Report 2024-25, as the Board required time to consider in detail the question and evidence supplied, they were not in a position to provide the member of the public with a response at the time of the meeting and therefore in line with the Standing Order relating to dealing with Public Questions, a written response would be provided in due course.