Our Ref:
FOI 10878
Your Ref:
Please Contact:
Janet Morris
Telephone:
01422 392043
Fax:
01422 393073
Email:
xxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
www.calderdale.gov.uk
Date:
12 November 2012
Mr David Reynolds
Democratic & Partnership Services
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Westgate House
Westgate
HALIFAX
HX1 1PS
Dear Mr Reynolds
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Request for information
Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, detailed
below, which was received on 15 October 2012. Our response is in bold italics
Who is the Head of Children’s Safeguarding at your council?
The Head of Children’s Social Care is currently Sue Ross (Interim), Beate Wagner will be
the new Head of Service mid November. In addition, we have a Lead Councillor – Cllr.
Megan Swift. The Director of Children’s Services who has statutory responsibility for
children and young people’s services in Calderdale, including safeguarding is Stuart
Smith.
Have you set up a Children’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub?
We are unsure of what you are actually asking for here, but I hope the following answers
your questions:
We have the Calderdale Safeguarding Board, a statutory multi-agency board that has a
strategic role, holding all agencies accountable for the delivery of safeguarding i.e.
specifically those that provide services for children and young people, including
voluntary sector.
However, the following question suggests that it relates to the joint Health, Children’s
Social Services and Police – MAST (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Team) which is currently
being set up within Calderdale and we expect will be operation within the next three
months. The main contact for this will be Jane Booth (Independent chair, Calderdale
Safeguarding Children’s Board) and Lisa Adams (Interim Service Manager, First
Response Team).
If Yes, at what stage is the project at? And who is the main contact in the Multi-Agency
Safeguarding Hub?
See above.
Ian Hughes
Head of Democratic & Partnership Services
Y:\Calderdale\Information Governance\JM\Template Letters\Response letter with sig.dot
Who is the Head of Adults Safeguarding at your council?
Councillor Bob Metcalfe is the portfolio holder for safeguarding adults in Calderdale
Council. The Safeguarding Adults Team in Calderdale is managed by Mark Albiston and
sits within the Welfare and Social Care part of the Directorate, which is managed by Phil
Shires. The strategic vision of Safeguarding Adults work is overseen by the
Safeguarding Adults Board which is overseen by an independent chair - Bill Hodson.
The top priority for Calderdale Council is to safeguard adults who are at risk of being
abused.
This is within the meaning of the “Vulnerable Adult” definition that is contained within
the Department of Health’s “No Secrets”.
Do you have any plans for setting up an Adult’s Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub?
The Council and NHS are currently looking to set up a multi agency safeguarding adult’s
team on a pilot basis.
The Local Authority is currently working with the Clinical Commissioning Group
(replaced the PCTs) to finalise and agree a 6 month pilot project, which will set up a
multi- agency safeguarding adults team. This team will be line managed by the
safeguarding adults’ manager who is joint funded by the Council and NHS Calderdale.
If Yes, at what stage is the project at? And who is the main contact in the Adult’s Multi-Agency
Safeguarding Hub?
The Local Authority and Clinical Commissioning Group are at the stage of finalising the
outcomes and remit of the Safeguarding adults’ pilot and staff resources required to
meet these outcomes. It is anticipated that this issue will be resolved before the end of
December 2012.
The main leads for this project are Mark Albiston (Safeguarding Adults Manager
Calderdale Council) and Ann McPherson (Assistant Director Quality Improvement
Safeguarding Adults NHS Calderdale.
In addition to this the Local Authority is currently leading a project to develop a whole
systems and early intervention response model to safeguarding concerns within
collective care settings (for example care homes).
This will map out information that is held by internal and external stakeholders and will
allow us to consider the business processes and working relationships required to
ensure all stakeholders can build on their understanding of:
The roles and responsibilities of each key stakeholder (e.g. the police, social
workers, quality and performance contracts team, complaints officers, health staff,
etc)
The information that is held by each partner agency
Where this information is currently reported to and how this is managed.
The information needs and requirements of each partner agency.
What barriers exist to prevent effective communication exchange across different
operational boundaries.
Ian Hughes
Head of Democratic & Partnership Services
Y:\Calderdale\Information Governance\JM\Template Letters\Response letter with sig.dot
Business processes we require to ensure there is clear and auditable
accountability around the issue of information exchange when concerns are of a
safeguarding nature.
Appropriate responses to safeguarding concerns that are based on the nature of
the concern (i.e. is this a criminal act) and are proportionate to the level of
concern.
Better understanding of market forces and the impact on adult safeguarding
This will allow us to move towards more proactive mechanisms for responding to
safeguarding adults concerns.
I hope this is helpful to you and any feedback from you would be welcomed
If for any reason you are unhappy with our response, you are entitled to approach the Head of
Democratic and Partnership Services, Westgate House, Westgate, Halifax HX1 1PS.
If you remain dissatisfied with our decision, please contact the Information Commissioner,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.
Yours sincerely
Janet Morris
Information Governance Officer
Ian Hughes
Head of Democratic & Partnership Services
Y:\Calderdale\Information Governance\JM\Template Letters\Response letter with sig.dot
