Agenda item

The Chair noted the two safeguarding reports would be presented with questions to follow both presentations.

Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership

The Board received a report from the Independent Chair of the Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership (DSAP) setting out their Annual Report, presented by the Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) Business Manager, Heidi Gibson (for copy see file of minutes).

Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership

The Board received a report from the Independent Chair and Scrutineer of the Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership (DSCP) setting out their Annual Report, presented by the Strategic Manager Safeguarding and Professional Practice, Chris Ring (for copy see file of minutes).

S Lamb asked as regards assurance in terms of decision making and voice of the child, noting Care Quality Commission advice and criticism as regards single agency decision making.  The Strategic Manager Safeguarding and Professional Practice noted that there was very good partner agency relationships and governance arrangements in place and there was always good attendance at any child protection conference.  He added he had confidence in the support in place and joint decision making and noted challenge where single decision making had taken place before.  He noted it was for agencies to check their processes in terms of sharing information.  S Lamb asked as regards evidence of all partners actively challenging and feeding into discussions.  The Strategic Manager Safeguarding and Professional Practice noted that when looking at the journey of a child through a social care lens, he noted good judgement in how children and young people were triaged and provided with multi-agency support.

The Chair asked if there was anything the Health and Wellbeing Board could do help with the work of the DSAP and DSCP.  The SAB Business Manager explained that from the Adults perspective there were already strong links with the Board, as well as with Public Health colleagues looking at data to be able to help support preventative work.  She added that the work with commissioning and other partners provided good foundations. 

The Strategic Manager Safeguarding and Professional Practice noted that Officers were awaiting the imminent Government response in relation to Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.  The Chair noted that it may be beneficial if the recommendations from that review were brought back to the Board. 

The Strategic Manager (Partnerships) noted elements relating to safeguarding could be brought in within the refresh of the JSNAA.

Dr J Nadkarni asked as regards any closed or toxic culture.  The SAB Business Manager noted that those types of culture existed in many places, and that as a forward thinking action, a ‘closed culture’ course had been developed, noting positive feedback received.  She noted that in terms of monitoring and reporting, there were moves to ‘be smarter’ and work collectively in terms of preventative work.  She added that agencies were asked to come into the Partnership to give assurance.  The Chair asked as regards what information was in the public domain in that regard, the SAB Business Manager noted that some learning was in the public domain and added that national messages were needed.  She explained there had been work locally as regards what partners could do, as well as discussions with colleagues nationally as regards how to take issues forward nationally.

Resolved:

(i)        That the Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership Annual Report suite for 2021/2022 and progress made by the Partnership be noted.

(ii)       That the future work of the Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership be noted.

(iii)     To note the content of the Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership cover report.

(iv)     To accept the Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report for information, as an overview of the work undertaken in 2021/22 and their priorities for action in 2022/23.

S Lamb left the meeting at 11.23am