Agenda, decisions and minutes

Resolved: the minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a true record.

Resolved: the minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a true record.

Resolved: the minutes of the meeting were agreed as a true record.

Resolved: the minutes of the meeting were agreed as a true record.

There were none.

There were none.

Resolved: the responses were noted.

The committee noted the response from the Health and Wellbeing Board to its referral on BAME mental health inequalities. The committee agreed to have an update in 6 months.

The committee noted the response from Mayor and Cabinet to its referral on the Recommissioning of building-based day services for older adults. The committee agreed to have an update in 6 months.

Resolved: the responses were noted.

Resolved: the committee thanked the independent Chair for his evidence, noted the report, and agreed to refer its views to Mayor and Cabinet.

Professor Michael Preston-Shoot (Independent Chair, LSAB) introduced report. There was a discussion and the following key points were noted:

1.1  It was noted that the number of safeguarding cases in Lewisham is lower than elsewhere in London.

1.2  The number of safeguarding cases varies across London. The key points are whether all organisations and services in Lewisham that should be are notifying adult safeguarding of concerns, and whether the triaging that takes place after this is effective.

1.3  A recent independent audit of Lewisham’s triage process concluded that it was one of the best. The independent Chair has also been impressed by the standard of section 42 enquiries carried out by social workers.

1.4  It is difficult to assess whether the number of adult safeguarding notifications of concern is more or less than it should be. Lewisham has significant challenges around disability, poverty and other form of social exclusion, but it is difficult to gather evidence of cases that should have been notified

1.5  The impact of cuts and funding reductions on adult safeguarding was discussed and it was noted that austerity has had an impact on frontline services. The independent auditor of Lewisham’s adult safeguarding process was satisfied, however, that the Council had not added any additional access criteria in response to workload pressures.

1.6  The committee discussed adult safeguarding in relation to “county lines” drug trafficking and the “cuckooing” of vulnerable people’s homes for drug dealing.

1.7  It was noted that while “county lines” drug trafficking is often a child safeguarding issue, the safeguarding adults board must hold agencies to account for what they are doing when children involved reach the age of 18 and may be trying to escape. The independent Chair noted that it is an issue that Lewisham and other London boroughs need get up to speed on quickly.

1.8  The committee asked about the distribution of information explaining who to get in touch with if you have an adult safeguarding concern. It was noted that this information should be available in every public location in Lewisham, as well as information about the different types of abuse and neglect.

1.9  In relation to unregistered providers, the safeguarding adults board continues to seek reassurances that adult social care and partner agencies are aware of the issue and are making sure, as far as regulations allow, that the quality of accommodation is adequate. 

Resolved: the committee thanked the independent Chair for his evidence, noted the report, and agreed to refer its views to Mayor and Cabinet.

Resolved: the committee noted the report.

Jim Lusby (Director of Strategy, LGT) introduced the report. There was a discussion and the following key points were noted:

1.1  It was noted that breaches of the working time directive among nursing staff is not monitored as systematically as other staffing groups. The Trust is however very aware of the pressure on nursing staff and therapists.

1.2  The committee noted that the uptake of the flu jab by Trust staff was very low – 50% compared with a target of 75%. The Trust has been more proactive about explaining the importance of the flu jab, and debunking myths, and is focussed on creating as many ways as possible for staff to access the jab.

1.3  The committee asked about the number of people attending A&E with mental health problems. The Trust noted that it is working with the local mental health trust, SLaM, to pilot a change in the triage process this winter, by bringing the psychiatric liaison nurse up to the point of triage.

1.4  The committee noted the increase in staff sickness levels and asked if the Trust was monitoring the relation between this an increasing levels of attacks on staff. The Trust agreed to share the relevant data.

Resolved: the committee noted the report.

Resolved: the committee agreed the work programme.

The Scrutiny Manager introduced the report and the following was noted:

1.1 The committee asked for an annual update on the data published by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust on meeting the public sector equality duty.

1.2 The committee asked for an update on health visitors. The scrutiny manager agreed to share the relevant information from the previous meeting.

Resolved: the committee agreed the work programme.

The committee agreed to refer its views on item 5 (adult safeguarding) to Mayor and Cabinet in the following terms:

The committee noted the guidance on the last page of the Lewisham Safeguarding Adults Board’s (LSAB) annual report about how to report a suspected safeguarding issue, and expressed concern that not enough publicity is being given to this information. The committee agreed to ask the Mayor and Cabinet to explain what steps are being taken to ensure that this information is appearing in every public building in the borough, starting with Laurence House and the Civic Suite, in order to encourage the wider public to get in touch and report safeguarding concerns.