Welcome from our Chair - Ian Cardwell

In recent years, the Board and its partners have continued to navigate significant pressures on services. Although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has eased, new and complex challenges have emerged, disproportionately affecting those in our community who rely on care and support. The cost-of-living crisis, increasing pressure on health and care systems, and workforce shortages - particularly in recruitment and retention - have all contributed to heightened risks of neglect or abuse.  

Despite these difficulties, the commitment and professionalism shown by staff, volunteers, and caregivers across Cheshire West and Chester remain exceptional. Their dedication has enabled the Board and its partners to maintain high-quality support for adults who use our services.

A central responsibility for the Board this year has been ensuring that safeguarding services continue to operate effectively, even in the face of resource constraints. This has included not only delivering essential care and support but also promoting good safeguarding practice within the wider community, such as through our involvement in National Safeguarding Week.

We have continued to uphold strong oversight and governance, holding partners to account and ensuring that safeguarding practice is both effective and centred on the principles of Making Safeguarding Personal. This approach ensures that adults’ voices remain at the heart of all decision-making.

Raising awareness of safeguarding issues has also remained a key priority. Through our engagement with the wider community, we have worked to ensure that the risks faced by adults at risk are better understood. While substantial progress has been made, we recognise that further work is required, and this remains an area of focus.  Our commitment to accessibility and effective governance has been strengthened through work with our Service User Group, which has helped develop clearer, easy-read versions of key documents, including this Annual Report.

This Report outlines our achievements over the past 12 months, identifies areas for improvement, and analyses key data trends to inform future safeguarding activity. It also reflects on our case review work, particularly Safeguarding Adult Reviews, and how learning is being used to enhance practice.

Finally, we set out our forward-looking plans, including our Strategic Priorities for 2025–2026 and our Business Plan for the year ahead. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all Board members - especially our sub-group Chairs - for their continued professionalism and commitment, and to the Safeguarding Unit for their hard work and support throughout 2024–2025. 

Ian Cardwell - Independent Chair