Issue - meetings

The Independent Member has completed an audit of cases which were referred to  Children’s Services from Adults services .  The audit will examine the interface between Adults services and Children’s Services and how the cases have been taken forward by the Children’s Service. Report to follow

 A section 11 of the Children’s Act 2004 places a statutory duty on persons and bodies to ensure they  have proper and robust arrangements  to safeguard and promote the welfare  of children. In  the summer of 2012  the LSCB  asked key partners agencies including Adult services  to audit their service  in respect  of this role in supporting the safeguarding of children.  The key  meeting points between these services would be  substance mis-use  and mental health adults with learning difficulties.

A case file audit process was in place and three questions were added to audits to ascertain:  if the client had contact with children and young people,  were there any concerns  related  to the welfare of children and young people ie substance mis-use,  or disabilities issues  including mental health  and whether contact had been made with CYPS.  There were a total of 15 cases identified that involved a referral from Adult services to Children’s service  and the Independent member  had audited them and found that  all the referrals were  appropriate and dealt with promptly.

 The Independent Member remarked on the  small number of referrals  as she  had expected more referrals  relating to clients with mental health issues or domestic violence. It was clarified that these were the cases that had  been referred to  the Adults through  the SOVA(Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults)  referral process . This audit sample did not encompass  clients  that are responsibility of  Adults  with Learning Difficulties,   Drugs  Alcohol  Action team, Adults with Physical Disabilities . It was also explained that two thirds of the clients in   Adults service are older people  with over 3000   people  in receipt of services.   Assistant Director for Adults and Community  services   offered to complete  further sampling on  these areas and there could be contact with Drugs Alcohol action  team to  also ask if they could participate in  an  qualitative audit  as well.

In line with the  Children’s  services wider support to families, the committee felt it would  be worthwhile  examining  how   referrals from Children’s services are taken forward by Adults services along with  how  referrals were taken forward by Children’s Services once received by Adults services.

Reference was made to case number 13  and  it was agreed an update on this particular case was brought back to the next Committee meeting.