Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB)
The Care Act has said that Newham Council must set up a Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB). Newham has had a SAB since 2006 however the Act now gives further direction and duties.
The main objective of a SAB is to assure itself that local safeguarding arrangements and its partners act to help and protect adults across Newham.
Remembering Fran Pearson by Colin Ansell Interim Chief Executive
It is with great sadness and regret that I learnt of the death of our Independent Adult Safeguarding Chair Fran Pearson. Fran was the Independent Chair of our Safeguarding Adults Board for 7 years and was previously the Independent Chair of our Children’s Safeguarding Board. Fran was a valued member of Newham and worked tirelessly to raise awareness of safeguarding, tackling issues head on and tackling inequalities that exist throughout our system.
Fran was absolutely committed to improving the lives of our residents and also the lives of others both locally and nationally, successfully driving forward safeguarding adults activity with great expertise, dedication, enthusiasm, empathy and sensitivity. She worked with officers, partners, members, residents and their families tirelessly and we will all miss her deeply.
I worked almost daily with Fran during 2020 in response to the pandemic and the profound effect the virus and associated lockdowns had on some of the most vulnerable in our society, this included working on Care Homes, hospital discharge and the impact of COVID on people with Mental Health needs. She supported me, the organisation and our residents through what is one of the most difficult periods for the borough and our society and I will be forever thankful for having the support and dedication from Fran.
Fran leaves a lasting legacy which we will continue to build on, taking collective learning where the services we provide need to improve and how we can ensure people are kept safe.
A SAB has three core duties
1. Publish a strategic plan
To outline, for each financial year how it will meet its main objective and what the members will do to achieve this.
The plan must be developed with local community involvement, and the SAB must consult the local Healthwatch organisation.
The plan should be evidence-based and make use of all available evidence and intelligence from partners.
2. Publish an annual report
To detail:
- What the SAB has done during the year to achieve its main objective and implement its strategic plan
- What each member has done to implement the strategy
- The findings of any Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SAR) and subsequent action.
3. Conduct any Safeguarding Adults Reviews
A SAR is an in-depth review carried out where someone dies or is seriously injured as a result of neglect and abuse. This is carried out in accordance with Section 44 of the Care Act.
Board Members
Following the sad news of the death of Fran Pearson the Independent Chair role is currently vacant, whilst we work to appoint a new Independent Chair please contact nsab@newham.gov.uk or 020 3373 3620.
There must also be three core members who should be decision makers for their service:
- The Local Authority (LA)
- The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
- The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
The Board is made up of a number of organisation's including people from the following:
- Newham Adult Social Services(DASS)
- LBN Housing
- Barts Health Hospital Trust
- East London Foundation Trust (Health and Mental Health)
- Care Quality Commission
- London Probation Service
- Newham Safeguarding Children's Board
- London Ambulance Service
- London Fire Brigade
- Healthwatch Newham
- Voiceability Advocacy Services
- Age UK Newham
- Newham Councillor Neil Wilson.
The SAB meets 8 times a year. There are subcommittees that work on the priorities set by the board which report then back the SAB.