LGA and ADASS Advice and Guidance to Directors of Adult Social Services

Presentation to ADASS Spring Seminar 18 April 2013 The full document can be downloaded from the LGA Knowledge Hub https://knowledgehub.local.gov.uk/ or http://www.local.gov.uk/publications http://www.adass.org.uk/ or ADASS website

The Background

The Law Commission's Review of Adult Social Care legislation White Paper and draft Care and Support Bill published Consultation on possible new safeguarding powers Implementation of the Mental Capacity Act Changes and developments in domestic violence legislation Developments in how hate crime is treated Winterbourne View, Ash Court, Mid Staffs, other high profile scandals Changes in the Care Quality Commission NHS re-organisation and new Healthwatch arrangements Police and Crime Commissioners Squeeze on public service spending

The Vision

People are able to live a life free from harm, where communities: have a culture that does not tolerate abuse work together to prevent abuse know what to do when abuse happens

Safeguarding is everybody's business

What Works

• A focus on people and the outcomes they want valuing the difference that is made; process is important but not an end in itself.

• Collaborative leadership supporting, integrating and holding partners to account • Effective interfaces with Health and Wellbeing Boards, Community Safety Partnerships, Children ’ s Safeguarding Boards, etc.

• Responsive specialist services in place and have a portfolio of responses to support people with difficult decision making.

• Concerns are addressed proportionately so that systems are not swamped and we do not miss the really serious concerns.

• Fully integrated systems commissioning, contracts management, care management reviews and safeguarding intelligence.

Achieving Good Outcomes for Service Users

Policies and procedures focus on making a difference to people's lives People outcomes right through the process Performance framework aggregates inputs, outputs, outcomes and trends Inclusive approach engages carers & families

Directors should ensure that:

• • • • • you are leading a commitment to improve outcomes for people at risk of harm; your service and procedures drive engagement with people and discusses with them the outcomes that they want at the beginning, middle and end of the process; your staff are competent in working with families and networks and have the skills, knowledge and permission to use the full range of legal and social work interventions; you are engaged with local criminal and justice services to make sure victims get the same access to justice as everyone else; the performance of your safeguarding services is regularly checked and audited.

PRIORITY AREAS Achieving Good Outcomes Responding to Reported Abuse Leadership Safeguarding Adults Boards Safeguarding Adults Reviews Personalisation Legal Powers Workforce

Responding to Reported Abuse

Defining ‘abuse’ Proportional guidelines on alerts and referrals Agreed multi-agency pathway for dealing with suspected abuse Systematic monitoring of response times and outcomes User-friendly procedures emphasise user outcomes not processes Out-of-area placements

Leadership

Pro-active approach to build prevention into the infrastructure.

Building strong relationships with partner organisations Challenge own services as well as external Embed safeguarding in corporate & service strategies Get safeguarding on the agendas of new organisations/boards/committees

We haven't got a plan so nothing can go wrong!

What makes Safeguarding Adults Boards Effective

A dynamic chair Good governance Sound strategy and planning Holding people to account Active members Intelligent commissioning Joined-up risk management Pro-active communications

Safeguarding Adults Reviews

Serious Case Review to Safeguarding Adults Review Range of proportionate types of review Local protocol for deciding how and when to undertake a Safeguarding Adults Review All partners’ commitment to fully participate Learning followed up & embedded in practice & procedures Reviews from other areas considered & the learning applied

Safeguarding Personalisation Principles

Options for people to choose accredited services (including an offer of CRB and quality checks).

Care planning is person-centred and regularly reviewed.

People have access to information and advice about protecting themselves, the services they use and what to do if they are being harmed or abused.

Advocacy services are available for people who are unable to challenge or change circumstances that they experience as abusive.

NHS and local authority commissioners build in the assurance that a quality framework is in place and is regularly tested.

Whistle blowing help lines are available to staff of all care providing organisations.

Legal Powers

"What good is it making someone safer if it merely makes them miserable?"

Lord Justice Munby People fully involved & in control of processes Least restrictive option Legal literacy of social workers and managers Easy access to legal advice Usage of Mental Capacity Act monitored

Workforce

Considerable workforce development issues Recognised competency frameworks Safeguarding staff are person-centred Range of training levels cover the needs of all who work with adults Training and development strategy audits, delivers, and monitors