Who we are

The overarching purpose of the Safeguarding Adults Board is to help and safeguard adults with care and support needs. It does this by:

• assuring itself that local safeguarding arrangements are in place as defined by the Care Act 2014 and statutory guidance
• assuring itself that safeguarding practice is person-centred and outcome-focused
• working collaboratively to prevent abuse and neglect where possible
• ensuring agencies and individuals give timely and proportionate responses when abuse or neglect have occurred
• assuring itself that safeguarding practice is continuously improving and enhancing the quality of life of adults in its area

The Safeguarding Adults Board must lead on adult safeguarding arrangements across Cheshire West and Chester and oversee and coordinate the effectiveness of the safeguarding work of its member and partner agencies. Under the provisions of the Care Act 2014, the Board is required to:

• develop and publish a strategic plan setting out how they will meet their objectives and how their member and partner agencies will contribute
• publish an Annual Report detailing how effective their work has been
• commission Safeguarding Adult Review (SARs) for any cases which meet the criteria for these and where there is opportunity for multi-agency learning

The focus of the Safeguarding Adults Board is to ensure that in the borough safeguarding arrangements work effectively so that adults at risk can live their lives free from abuse or neglect. An adult at risk is a person aged 18 or over who has needs for care and support and as a result of those needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.  In this report we will call an adult at risk the ‘adult’.