Safeguarding report on vital measures to help vulnerable people set to be discussed

Safeguarding is the principle of living free from abuse and neglect, including self-neglect, according to the Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB), a statutory body made up of key partners including Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Constabulary and the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board.

Now safeguarding issues and achievements across Lancashire are to come under the spotlight when the LSAB's annual report is discussed by Lancashire County Council's cabinet on Thursday, December 7.

The report  highlights achievements in 2022-23 like a revamped safeguarding adult service, joined up mental health and police services, campaigns like Safeguarding Adults Week, staff training and better networks like the Violence Reduction Network in Lancashire.

Also featured are details of planned measures to address issues such as self-neglect, mental capacity assessments, domestic abuse, mental health and care needs, while a commission is being developed to ensure vulnerable residents have their voices heard.

Stephen Chapman, the chair of Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board, said: "This report reflects challenges faced across our region in 2022-2023, post Covid and at a time when demand increased, and agencies continued to do their very best for the public of Lancashire.

"We are committed to ensuring learning from our reviews, which means improved services and a robust work plan for the next year,  and we will work with partners and other agencies to ensure tangible outcomes in line with the Care Act 2014."

County Councillor Graham Gooch, cabinet member for Adult Social Care, said: "We welcome this vital annual report which looks at the crucial work being undertaken by Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board. Good safeguarding means looking out for others and yourself, and we are working with partner organisations very closely to promote the importance of both wellbeing and safeguarding.

"Our Adult Social Care Service is working constantly with partners at the Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board to help people across Lancashire. Combined with our package of winter support, we welcome this as part of a vital package of measures to help vulnerable people across the region."