POST CQC REVIEW OF SAFEGUARDING ADULT BOARD – BPLCRI 26 LG-04903

The IDeA as Partners in Care and Health (PCH) are working with the Social Care institute for Excellence and other well-respected organisations to support the delivery of sector led improvement for adult social care.

PCH helps councils to improve the way they deliver adult social care and public health services and helps Government understand the challenges faced by the sector. The programme is a trusted network for developing and sharing best practice, developing tools and techniques, providing support, and building connections. It is offered to councils without charge.

As a part of a new programme, the Post CQC assurance bespoke safeguarding improvement programme, PCH requires a consultant to provide a review of their Safeguarding Adult Board (SAB) governance effectiveness, structures, pathways and approaches to strategic safeguarding across the locality. They would like to be assured that their partnership works effectively across the safeguarding system and is Care Act compliant.

1. Governance and leadership

The review will examine the SAB’s overall governance and leadership, including the effectiveness of SAB support functions and the reporting structures of Strategic Delivery Groups. It will also assess how clearly the Board articulates and fulfils its statutory duties; and the extent to which governance arrangements align with, and connect to, wider strategic Boards.

Assurance oversight

2. The consultant will evaluate the use and quality of the Board’s assurance documents, review the effectiveness of Safeguarding Adults Review processes, assessing the robustness and analytical value of the performance dataset. The evaluation should also consider the Board’s use of wider intelligence and escalation mechanisms through the lens of MSP and how they are progressing their priorities of neglect/self-neglect, domestic abuse and contextual safeguarding. As well as review current and planned audit and assurance activity, including alignment with council scrutiny.

Additionally, the consultant will consider the SAB’s work on co production, advocacy, and equality, diversity and inclusion (including hate crime) and examine how effectively the Board manages issues relating to transitions.

3. Post CQC inspection response

Evaluate the Board’s actions in response to inspection findings and how well this is aligning with the Adult Improvement Board.

4. The consultant will assess the extent of multi-agency engagement with the Board’s work and priorities, evaluate how effectively the SAB challenges partners and drives accountability across the system, and review the clarity and effectiveness of the Board’s escalation routes.