MORE than 4,600 adult safeguarding concerns were reported across Barnsley over the latest 12-month period - including the alleged rape of someone in a care setting and a woman who was not found for several days following her death.
The Barnsley Safeguarding Adults Board brings together health organisations, Barnsley Council and the police to promote wellbeing and reduce the risk of harm for people with care and support needs.
Over the latest 12-month period, a total of 4,612 safeguarding concerns were received by the board - a 47 per cent increase on the previous year’s figure.
The board has a target that ten per cent of all its referrals are made by the public - last year the figure was eight per cent.
Marianne Huison, the independent chair of the Barnsley Safeguarding Adults Board, said: “The last year has been a challenging year for the partnership given the sharp increase in safeguarding referrals to Adult Social Care, against the backdrop of austerity and the need to spend less.
“This picture is reflected nationally, however the quality of data the board now has available has been key in determining how partners can reduce unnecessary referrals.
“Conversely, I was delighted to see an increase in referrals from the public, with a high proportion meeting the criteria for a safeguarding response.
“Self-neglect continues to be an increasing reason for referral both locally and nationally.
“I was particularly impressed by the comprehensive work undertaken by the SAB to tackle self-neglect in the form of hoarding, which is held up nationally as good practice.”
Over the same period, a total of seven ‘safeguarding adults reviews’ (SARs) were completed.
They are statutory processes that aim to identify the lessons to be learned from cases where an adult at risk of abuse or neglect has died or experienced serious harm, and there is concern about how agencies worked together to safeguard the adult.
The purpose of SARs is to promote effective learning and improvement action to prevent future deaths or harm occurring again.
Of the seven, one included the alleged rape of somebody in a care setting - though there has been no outcome to date.
On another occasion, a woman was discharged from Barnsley Hospital’s A and E unit without a care package.
She then died at home through natural causes but was not found for several days.
Subsequently, changes to the discharge arrangements to include those who have not been admitted to wards have been made.
Coun Jo Newing, cabinet spokesperson for adults and place health, said: “The review demonstrates our commitment across Barnsley to learning from cases where adults have sadly died or experienced harm due to abuse or neglect.
“This process allows us to improve safeguarding practices and enhance how agencies and professionals work together.
“One of the board’s core statutory duties is to conduct SARs under Section 44 of the Care Act.
“The board must arrange a review if it knows or suspects that a death resulted from abuse or neglect or if it believes that agencies could have worked more effectively to protect the person.
“While we cannot comment on individual cases, it is important to reflect on some adults’ experiences and our shared responsibility to reduce the risk.
“Barnsley goes beyond statutory requirements by reviewing cases that do not meet the legal threshold for a formal review, demonstrating our dedication to transparency, learning, and improving safeguarding practices for all adults in our community.”
