Agenda item

Report of the Safeguarding Adults Executive Board

Councillor Hug welcomed Lousie Butler, Bi borough Head of Adult Safeguarding to speak to the report and noted the absence of Aileen Buckton, Chair of the Adults Safeguarding Executive Board (“the Board”) who sadly could not make the meeting.

Councillor Hug asked thatthanks be placed on record to Aileen for the hard and excellent work that she does as Chair and to all those that support the Board.

Councillor Hug invited Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Voluntary Community Sector, to speak to the report.

Councillor Butler-Thalassis thanked all officers, members of the board and service users for the huge amount of work undertaken to produce the report, she told Cabinet colleagues that the report reflects the everyday hard work that the team do to support Westminster’s most vulnerable residents. 

Councillor Hug invited Bernie Flaherty, Deputy Chief Executive and Bi-Borough Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Public Health to add any further comment.

Cabinet heard that this is the fourth annual report from the Board and that those involved in delivering the report and the overall service have had to adopt new and different ways to listen and engage to ultimately make safeguarding accessible to all. As a result of this our residents are London Ambassadors meaning that they are helping to improve engagement across the city on the issue of Adult Safeguarding.

Bernie told Cabinet that the 2021/22 report reflects an ongoing commitment to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 on safeguarding activity and identify new concerns and challenges which the Board want to respond to.

Councillor Hug invited Lousie Butler to speak to the report.

Louise encouraged Cabinet to look at the interactive version of the report online as the videos that are included in this version really do give voice to the safeguarding issues that many face and in addition highlight empower people to take action

Cabinet heard that there was an on-going commitment to exploring opportunities that have come out of COVID. For example, looking at how to make safeguarding accessible to everybody. Cabinet heard that this is not just about language but working with groups like the BAME Help Forum to contact hard to reach communities to explore what safeguarding means to them, and the fears and barriers they have in contacting the service.

Lousie also touched on the vital role of the ambassadors who work hard to engage with communities across the city. Their good work has made them the voice of London and they now provide strategic advice on safeguarding across London and makes Westminster one of the few local authorities who have a strong community voice in this area.

Lousie concluded by informing Cabinet that there is currently an investigation into two fire related deaths in Westminster. The Board is undertaking a partnership response to ensure that events like these are not repeated. The findings of this review will be included in the 2022/23 Safeguarding Adults Executive Board Report.

RESOLVED: Cabinet noted the findings of the Board as contained in the 2021/22 report.