Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Independent Chair of Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Adults Board (LRSAB) for 2024/25. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 13’ is filed with these minutes.

The Chairman welcomed Ms. Seona Douglas, Independent Chair of the LRSAB to the meeting for this item. During the presentation of the report, there was a short video on ‘Self Neglect’ shown.

Arising from discussion and questions, the following points were made:

i.          The Independent Chair advised the video was just one way of communication to help people in the wider community understand issues relevant to safeguarding to the wider community. Accompanied with learning in the past year, the priorities for the Board for 2025 to 2027 equality, diversity, and inclusion.

ii.          Members raised concern given the importance of meeting, that attendance data provided in the report showed the absence of approximately 21% of expected attendees, some of whom had submitted multiple apologies for meetings, and asked the Independent Chair what steps were being taken to improve consistency, which was essential for continuity and progress. The Independent Chair noted it was an important issue that was a concern, but that she was actively engaging with organisations. It was further explained that, in some cases, late apologies were received due to the operational demands on frontline staff.

iii.          Referring to the financial section of the report, Members noted that income remained flat in 2023–24 and 2024–25, yet running costs increased significantly in 2024–25, and that reserves were used to cover the shortfall. Clarity was sought on whether contributing partners were expected to maintain their current funding levels for 2025-26, and if so, what steps were being taken to align expenditure with income. It was explained that the Board had operated on a goodwill basis, with contributions from partners remaining unchanged for several years. However, the Independent Chair had been working to establish a more sustainable financial model, including regular reviews and annual percentage increases to reflect rising costs. The financial structure combined adult and children’s Safeguarding Board budgets from which reserves had been drawn on the manage increased costs. The Independent Chair was also advocating for a Memorandum of Understanding with all contributing partners to formalise commitments and ensure long-term financial stability, especially in light of changes within the Integrated Care Board. It was confirmed the organisation held £117,000 in reserves.

iv.          A Member voiced concern as to why, given the Mental Capacity Act had been in place since 2005, there was such a strong emphasis on training which should be already embedded in practice across organisations and was a fundamental aspect of safeguarding. The Independent Chair responded it was concerning that consistent application was still lacking, but the issue had been identified not only locally but nationally, with safeguarding adult reviews frequently highlighting gaps in mental capacity assessments. Over the past two years, significant work had been undertaken to address the issue, with all partner organisations having responsibility to assess mental capacity, and training has been prioritised to ensure this is understood and implemented. The recurring issues flagged in both local and national reviews underscore the need for continued investment in this area to improve practice and outcomes.

v.          In response to a query, it was the responsibility of board members to disseminate information and ensure learning within their own organisations, which was monitored through audit processes and self-assessments. The Board operated as a partnership, and all partners shared equal responsibility for challenge and assurance, both within the Board and sub-groups, to ensure accountability and improvement.

vi.          Members reflected on the video on self-neglect and were concerned that, whilst planning to move forward with initiatives around diversity, language access, and technology, gaps in community engagement around isolation and lack of support in local communities had not been addressed. The Independent Chair clarified that the video and associated work aimed to raise awareness and promote engagement across all parts of the community in places such as libraries, places of worship, community halls, and informal gathering spaces, and that people were empowered to support one another and report concerns. It was recognised that progress was ongoing and that challenges remained.

The Chairman thanked Ms. Douglas for the report.

RESOLVED:

That the annual report of the Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Adults Board (LRSAB) for 2024/25 be noted and welcomed.