Issue - meetings

(a)       That the content of the progress report prepared by the North Wales Safeguarding Board’s Business Manager be noted;

(b)       That a further report be received within 12 months on the progress of identified priorities; and

(c)       That the concerns raised by the Committee be fed back to the North Wales Safeguarding Board for further consideration.

The Senior Manager (Safeguarding & Commissioning) introduced the progress report on the development of the North Wales Safeguarding Board (NWSB) for information.  She provided a summary of the safeguarding arrangements and structures across the region, including sub-groups.  She also advised that the Chief Officer had been appointed Chair of the North Wales Safeguarding Adult Board.

Councillor Hilary McGuill welcomed the findings of the report but said there was no mention of monitoring vulnerable children who were educated at home.  The Senior Manager drew attention to the section on Policy and Procedure Sub-Group which referred to input by the Elected Home Education Task Group on the Welsh Government guidance.  She said that regional protocols were in place to address actions identified, but would raise the concerns with the Task Group.  In response to concerns about the safeguarding of adults living at home who may not realise they were vulnerable, a range of assessments were carried out to establish the best arrangements for each individual.  Explanation was also given on a change in legislation on Adult Protection and Support Orders.

In respect of home education, Councillor Christine Jones explained that both she and Councillor Chris Bithell had been unsuccessful in their representations to the WG.

The Chief Officer agreed to pass on the concerns raised by Councillor Dave Mackie about the lack of an appropriate tool to monitor and assess performance of the Board, as indicated in the report.  He summarised the roles and responsibilities of officers in respect of adult and children’s services, and advised that two safeguarding conferences would be held during the Autumn to which all Members would be invited.  The Senior Manager acknowledged Councillor Mackie’s remarks on references to children and adults throughout the report, but explained that the document had been prepared by the NWSB and that a similar format was adopted by other regions.  On section 4 of the report, she explained that a range of work was being undertaken in Flintshire, including the filling of vacant posts to support the NWSB.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the content of the progress report prepared by the North Wales Safeguarding Board’s Business Manager be noted;

(b)       That a further report be received within 12 months on the progress of identified priorities; and

(c)       That the concerns raised by the Committee be fed back to the North Wales Safeguarding Board for further consideration.