Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board July 2022 Newsletter
Introducing our new Independent Chair
I am delighted to take up the role as Independent Chair of Cumbria Safeguarding Adult Board. Looking out for the wellbeing of our more vulnerable adults is such an important duty for every community and I am already impressed by the commitment shown across the public sector in the County. I am particularly excited about working directly with our local populations and supporting the safeguarding partnership in ensuring safeguarding is everyone’s business.
We all know someone in our families, friendship groups and amongst our neighbours who need looking out for., I am thrilled to be joining an already successful partnership and excited working with the team to secure a safer life for all of Cumbria’s communities.
Rob McCulloch-Graham - CSAB Independent Chair
CSAB launch Mental Capacity Act "learning zone"
CSAB have launched a webpage for practitioners dedicated to the Mental Capacity Act which provides access to information and resources intended to support practice.
We will continue to add further information and resources to the page so please check it out.
Everyone's Business: safeguarding webinars
Everyone’s Business is a safeguarding podcast which explores interesting and unique perspectives in respect of safeguarding children and adults at risk. The series is part of 39 Essex Chambers public law podcasts and features guests who offer insight into the subject. This mini series will run for ten episodes over summer 2022. From safeguarding in sports to the role of the Safeguarding Adults Board, there’s something for everyone.
The 30 minute webinars can be used as learning or shared in team meetings. You can subscribe to our the Public Law Podcast on iTunes and Spotify and you can also follow this series on Twitter: Everyone’s Business: A Safeguarding Podcast
NHS England Safeguarding App
The NHS Safeguarding app has been developed to act as a comprehensive resource for healthcare professionals, carers and citizens. It provides 24-hour, mobile access on up to date legislation and guidance across the safeguarding life course.
The app also provides information on how to report a safeguarding concern and even has a directory of safeguarding contacts for every local authority in England, searchable by region. It is accessed by over 300 users daily and has had over 100,000 downloads. The app can be accessed via Apple iOS, Google Play or it can be downloaded by visiting your device’s appropriate app store and searching for ‘NHS Safeguarding’.
If you have any questions or amendments that need to be noted on the NHS Safeguarding App please the Safeguarding Team: england.safeguarding@nhs.net
Award for Mental Health Street Triage Team
A successful partnership between police and mental health clinicians to help people in crisis has been expanded to support West Cumbria. The Street Triage Team is a partnership between Cumbria Police and Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW), provider of specialist mental health and disability services across the region. It sees mental health clinicians and police officers teaming up so they can effectively support people who come into contact with the police during a mental health crisis. The service wassuccessfully piloted in Carlisle in the summer of 2021. Since January 2022 a second Street Triage Team has been supporting people the West of Cumbria. The team have now been awarded a Commendation and Certificate of Merit from the force’s Chief Constable in recognition of their work.
"Our main focus is always making sure that the individual’s voice is heard and that they safely get access to the right support, at the right time, in the right place for them" Deborah Mawson, Street Triage Clinical Lead
New NICE guideline: Social Work with adults experiencing complex needs
This month’s NICE Talks podcastfocusses on NICE’s new guideline on social work with adults experiencing complex needs. You can access NICE guideline (NG216) Social work with adults experiencing complex needs here. The guideline covers the planning, delivery and review of social work interventions for adults who have complex needs. It promotes ways for social work professionals, other care staff and people with complex needs to work together to make decisions about care and support.
Friends Against Scams: Doorstep Crime
Doorstep crime refers to rogue traders, bogus callers and distraction burglary. Whilst we do have genuine callers at our doors, there are also those that aim to exploit people in their homes. Criminals often target when they believe their victims are in a more vulnerable state, and therefore more susceptible to being taken advantage of. This type of crime includes people that knock on your door offering fraudulent services, being overcharged for services, as well as false use of logos or ID that appear to be genuine. Key Statistics
5,228 reported cases of door to door sales and rogue traders in 2021.
£25.8 million is the total loss from these reported cases.
70-79 and 30-39 are the two most common age groups reported to be victim
Friends Against Scams have produced a leaflet and three doorstep crime posters that can be displayed and/or distributed in your community to raise awareness of these scams. For further information about how to become a Friend Against Scams, to print the poster/leaflet and how to report scams click here
Discriminatory abuse: a briefing for practitioners
This briefing forms part of a larger piece of work, and series of activities and resources, to gain a better understanding of discriminatory abuse, and how to recognise equality characteristics in case management, and more broadly recognise unconscious bias and discrimination in practice, approaches and strategies within adult safeguarding.
You can register to access the LGA briefing and further information here
Mo Farah’s slavery story could help stop trafficking
Sir Mo Farah's has shared his story publicly and revealed he is a survivor of modern slavery and was trafficked to the UK as a child. Unseen CEO Andrew Wallis said;
"I take my hat off to Sir Mo Farah, who has revealed he is a survivor of modern slavery and was trafficked to the UK as a child. How much courage must it have taken for the double Olympic champion to relive this traumatic experience and to share it with millions of people in a new BBC documentary. We often struggle to raise awareness of the true extent of modern slavery and human trafficking. Sir Mo has helped us no end on this front. It can happen to anyone" You can read more from the Unseen article published on 13th July 2022 here
Modern slavery is a global problem and international crime.
Despite being illegal in every country in the modern world, slavery still exists and continues to affect millions of people worldwide, including many victims within the UK. You can access an information leaflet from GLAA here to spot the signs of exploitation.
If you think someone is being exploited or controlled you can report your concerns to the GLAA. In an emergency, if there is a risk of danger to life, or violence is being used or threatened, call the police using 999.
Get in touch with the GLAA for advice, assistance or to report an issue. Call our confidential helpline: 0800 432 0804 Email the intelligence team: intelligence@gla.gov.uk Visit us online: www.gla.gov.uk and click on ‘Report issues’. Call the 24/7 Modern Slavery helpline: 08000 121 700
People urged to look out for signs of Modern Slavery following operation in Cumbria.
A multi-agency operation has been carried out in Cumbria in a continued effort to prevent and protect people from modern slavery, and to raise awareness of the issue. Officers and officials from agencies including Cumbria Police, the National Crime Agency, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and HM Revenue & Customs worked together as enquiries were carried out.
GLAA Senior Investigating Officer Martin Plimmer said: “Modern slavery exists in communities up and down the UK and Cumbria is sadly no exception to this" Read more here
Signs that someone may be a victim of modern slavery include:
They are reluctant to speak or interact with strangers and are often nervous
They wear the same clothes every day that are often dirty or worn
They have no form of ID
They seem tired or starved
They seem to work all day, every day
Anyone with information can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it. You can also phone on 101. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
