Senior councillors in Leeds to consider progress report on supporting vulnerable adults

A new report detailing positive work to support vulnerable adults in Leeds is to be discussed by senior councillors this week.

At its meeting at Civic Hall on Wednesday 8 February, the council’s executive board will consider an annual report by the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB) on ongoing work being carried out across the city as well as its plan for the year ahead.

The LSAB is a partnership of organisations within Leeds that works to prevent and end abuse of adults with care and support needs in the city. Its three statutory partners are Leeds City Council, the NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group and West Yorkshire Police, supported by a range of health and care partners, third sector and public stakeholders including advocacy partners The Advonet Group. It has an independent chair, Richard Jones CBE, who leads the board and the reports the councillors will be considering.

In its annual report covering work undertaken in 2021/22, the board praises the effectiveness of ongoing partnership working in Leeds, with an increasing emphasis on listening to the ‘lived’ experiences of people being safeguarded. Working with Advonet on the ‘Talk to Me, Hear my Safeguarding Story’ project is highlighted as giving people more of a voice in the safeguarding process and helping to produce better outcomes.

A regional peer challenge undertaken in Leeds in April 2022 looking at safeguarding services in Leeds also praised priority work being carried out on self-neglect, with a citizen-led approach on the self-neglect policy being regarded as ‘exemplary’. Work being carried out addressing mental capacity issues was also praised.

In its report for the year ahead, the LSAB is keen to continue and develop its work, especially in addressing the needs of diverse communities in Leeds. It also aims to work with marginalised groups to hear the lived experiences of those who may previously have had difficulty engaging with services.

It sets out four main ambitions to underpin its work:

• - Develop citizen-led approaches to safeguarding adults
• - Improve awareness of safeguarding across all communities and partner organisations
• - Develop citywide approaches to safeguarding adults
• - Learn from experience to improve how we work

Leeds City Council executive member for adult and children’s social care and health partnerships Councillor Fiona Venner said:

“It is very pleasing to see the positive feedback in these reports, and it is testament to the hard work being put in by all the agencies and partners involved. Putting people first and listening to their views at all stages of the safeguarding process has been hugely important, and I’d like to thank Advonet for their positive partnership and work on the ‘Talk to Me, Hear my Safeguarding Story’ project which is making such a difference.

“We must continue to improve the help and support we offer, especially to engage, listen and understand anyone marginalised in Leeds and what the city can do to improve their lives in any way we can.”

To see the report being considered by the executive board, go to Council and democracy (leeds.gov.uk) (item 6).

ENDS

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