More and more people are aware of safeguarding and how important it is, and according to the annual report of the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board, here which shows a 95% increase in referrals in the past year.
The Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board (GSAB) annual report, released today, highlights the considerable activity that is being done to safeguard vulnerable adults both nationally and locally. The report discusses what the GSAB has achieved in the last 12 months as well as what can be learnt and the priorities for next year. See the full report here http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gsab/article/110210/Latest-updates-from-The-Board
In the last year, the GSAB has made it a priority to spread awareness of the board and the services that it represents and this has led to a raised awareness of safeguarding and an increase in the number of people coming forward to seek support or report concerns, which in turn means more people are being protected from harm, either from themselves or at the hands of others.
While 2013/14 was a positive year for the board, there is still a lot of work to be done in future and the report also outlines the board’s priorities for the next year ahead.
The report highlights that going forward:
- Key agencies will have a responsibility to share information. When a person in need of care dies and concerns are raised over the role of the organisations involved, reviews and strategic plans will be undertaken as a matter of course
- The GSAB will be doubling its efforts in the adult case review sub group, which looks at cases like these and makes sure that the board have the full picture of what went wrong, so that all organisations involved can improve as a result.
- The Boards main challenges for the next couple of years will be rising to the increasing demand and continuing to ensure high quality of support.
- Relationships among partners must continue to strengthen. Over the last year a Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) has been developed to improve information sharing across all partners with a safeguarding responsibility and will be in operation within the next 12 months.
Cllr Kathy Williams, cabinet member for safeguarding adults, said: “Increasing the awareness of the GSAB wasn’t an easy task as people often don’t understand what safeguarding is all about. I think it’s positive that referrals are increasing because it means more people know about the support that’s out there and available to them and we’re making it easier for them to find the support they need.
“I’d like to thank all board members for the work they have done so far at improving awareness and am confident that this will only grow further in the year ahead.”
Paul Yeatman, independent chair of Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board, said: “It’s been a busy year for all partners who make up the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adult’s Board.
“The message is out there that everyone has a role to play in keeping vulnerable adults safe from harm, but in the coming year we have to work even closer together.”