Issue - meetings

That Members consider Flintshire’s Annual Adult Protection Monitoring Report for the period      April 2011-March 2012.

The Head of Social Services for Adults presented a report to inform Members about the activity and developments within Adult Safeguarding over the year, specifically Adult Protection and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.  In 2011-12, 250 Adult Protection referrals were received by Flintshire, of these 186 progressed to a full investigation and 64 referrals were screened and were dealt with by the relevant Team Manager.  The annual increase in referrals was due to increased awareness and training. The new Social Services Bill would affect the coordination of and priority given to Adult Safeguarding at a strategic level across the country.  A pressure bid had been agreed by the Council for an additional £45k for 2012-13 with full year effect of £90k for future years.

            Councillor D.I.  Mackie asked if individual cases were looked at in isolation or if a name did appear on several occasions, was this linked? The Head of Social Services for Adults said that checks were made to see if any alleged perpetrators had previous records and if any evidence was found this would be discussed. He added that trend analysis of cases also identified cases of a similar nature.

            Councillor D. Evans expressed concern at the majority of alleged abuses occurring in the home, (96 cases) and in care homes and residential places (31 cases), and the highest number of persons alleged to be responsible for abuse were independent sector staff (61persons).  He said that more information was needed about independent sector staff alleged abuses in the home and care home setting.

            Councillor M. Bateman asked if there was a reason why the majority of cases involved women over 65 years of age in their own homes.  The Head of Social Services for Adults said that many women were carers and were vulnerable to abuse from people at home.  Staff such as district nurses and care staff who went in to people’s homes had received training in abuse and were also likely to identify more new cases.

RESOLVED:-

That Members consider Flintshire’s Annual Adult Protection Monitoring Report for the period April 2011-March 2012.