Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care detailing governance arrangements for the Statutory Local Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB) which is required to be established by 1 April 2015 in accordance with the 2014 Care Act.

(i)  To adopt the proposed Constitution of the Southampton Local Safeguarding Adult Board, attached at Appendix 1 of the report;

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services following consultation with the Local Safeguarding Adults Board, the Chief Executive and Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care to make any minor amendments to the Constitution as and when necessary; 

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Chief Executive following consultation with the Local Safeguarding Adults Board and Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care to formally appoint an Independent Chair to the Board on an annual basis;

(iv)  To approve entering into a formal Pooled Fund Arrangement attached as a Members’ Room Document to the report with Partners to support the functions of the Board as laid out in Section 43 of the Care Act 2014, noting that the Pooled Fund will total £104,000 of which the Local Authority’s contribution will be £64,500; and

(v)  To delegate authority to the Director, People, following consultation with the lead Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, to (a) agree the terms and conditions of the pooled fund agreement and (b) to carry out any ancillary actions needed to give effect to this recommendation.

1.  The Council has a statutory responsibility pursuant to the Care Act 2014 to establish a LSAB by 1st April 2015.

2.  Although it is not a statutory requirement, the Council should consider appointing an Independent Chair to the LSAB who is not an employee or a member of an agency that is a member of the Board in accordance with the recommendation in the Care and Support Statutory Guidance issued under the Care Act 2014.  The Chair has a critical role to lead collaboratively, give advice, support and encouragement but also to offer constructive challenge and hold main partner agencies to account and ensure that interfaces with other strategic functions are effective whilst also acting as a spokesperson for the Board.

1.  As there is a statutory responsibility to establishing a LSAB, no alternative options have been considered. 

2.  An Independent Chair can provide additional reassurance that the Board has independence from the Local Authority and other Partner Agencies.  In accordance with the Statutory Guidance the Chair will be accountable to the Chief Executive of the Local Authority as the lead body responsible for establishing the LSAB but should be appointed by the Local Authority in the name of the LSAB having consulted all its Statutory Partners. 

None.