DECISION

1.    To note the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2022-23.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, ADULT SOCIAL CARE (DENISE RADLEY)

Strategic Boards Manager (Ranjit Matharu)

Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care introduced the report that presented the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report setting out progress, achievements and learning over the previous year. Denise Radley, Corporate Director, Health, Adults and Community and Katie O'Driscoll, Director of Adult Social Care, provided further detail. Councillor Choudhury, Denise and Katie outlined some of the key achievements of the Board over the past year, including:

·         Community safeguarding YouTube video created by the engagement group.

·         Strengthening of audit work in adult social care.

·         Focus on learning and development of staff across the system.

·         Three Tower Hamlets residents now part of the London Safeguarding Voices Network.

Denise noted that, whilst there had been a fall in safeguarding referrals in 2022-23 compared to  the year before, this was being treated with vigilance due to awareness of under-reporting in the sector. Awareness raising remained critical to the work to ensure full reporting of cases.

Further to questions from Cabinet members, Denise and Katie explained how different approaches to awareness-raising were being pursued. They also explained that referral processes were kept under review to ensure they are as clear as possible.

RESOLVED that the Mayor in Cabinet:

1.    Notes the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2022-23.