Uttlesford review

The Essex Safeguarding Adults Board (ESAB) should seek assurance from all partners that there is an understanding of the requirement of carer assessments under the Care Act and from Adult Social Care, and that these are effectively undertaken.

EPUT and Essex Adult Social Care to: -
(a) Develop closer working relationships, in particular undertaking coordinated assessments working towards joint care planning and provide a progress update to ESAB.
(b) EPUT and Adult Social Care should provide evidence that activity is coordinated withing the terms of the Section 75 agreement (NHS 2006)

EPUT should provide evidence and demonstrate to ESAB that: -
(a)The recommendations within their internal investigation report are being implemented and the progress of that implementation.
(b)That the transformation of the assessment service and delivery pathways have delivered the anticipated service improvement.
(c)That where referrals are made from the community that the response is timely and feedback on the course of action is offered
(d) That where there is evidence of medication misuse by a client a timely medication review is undertaken.
(e) That EPUT reviews their Access Policy to take into account the fact that persons not attending appointments are vulnerable due to mental health issues and may require additional support.
(f) That all of the above are managed in order to ensure learning is embedded within practice.

The Essex Safeguarding Board should highlight to partner agencies the importance of making appropriate safeguarding referrals with reference to the LGA/ADASS guidance `Understanding what constitutes a safeguarding concern and how to support effective outcomes and the ‘Safeguarding Concerns Framework’.

The Essex Safeguarding Board should use this review to build on the Making Safeguarding Personal Project to include seeking innovative means of facilitating the ability of adult’s voices to be effectively heard.

All agencies involved in this review should consider how it can continue to promote a positive culture of professional curiosity which supports effective multi-agency working and how this can be assured and monitored through reflective supervision and performance management

All agencies in this review should ensure that professionals who are responsible for services are aware that coercion and controlling behaviours can form part of complex relationships and of the ways that this may manifest.

EPUT and their commissioners should review their current policies and procedures in relation to Domestic Abuse and coercive control and provide evidence that this is embedded in their training and practice.

The Essex Safeguarding Adults Board continues to promote the Hoarding Guidance and be assured it is understood and that agencies consider and use the available tools to assess and seek support for hoarding behaviour.

Contributing agencies to this review should provide the SETDAB and ESAB with assurance that the single agency actions identified in the Individual Management Reports are completed and reported on.

Essex Adult Social Care should provide assurance to Essex Safeguarding Adults Board that where a care and support package is required immediately but there are moving and handling concerns and a specialist assessment is indicated, consideration is given as to how to provide support in the meantime rather than waiting for the outcome of that additional assessment.

Uttlesford Community Safety Partnership to ensure that local domestic abuse services and SET DAB resources are promoted to local agencies and communities.