This website includes information about Safeguarding Adults at risk from abuse, and the work of Sefton Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board (also referred to as SSAPB).
The Board is a strategic body which leads safeguarding arrangements across the Borough of Sefton and oversee and coordinate the effectiveness of the safeguarding work of its members and partner agencies.
Safeguarding Adults Partnership Boards have specific duties and responsibilities as set out in the Care Act 2014. These include three core duties.
The overarching purpose of Sefton Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board is to help and safeguard adults with care and support needs.
SSAPB partner agencies include senior representatives from:
- Sefton Council
- Merseyside Police
- Merseyside Fire and Rescue
- North West Ambulance Service
- Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board
- Liverpool University Foundation Trust
- West Lancs and Mersey Teaching Hospital
- Sefton CVS
- The Carers Centre
- Healthwatch Sefton
- North West Probation Services
- Public Health
- Mersey Care Foundation Trust
SSAPB is a multi-agency strategic partnership and not part of Sefton Council however Sefton is one of the statutory funding partners and does host the Business Unit
The Partnership work together to:
- assuring itself that local safeguarding arrangements are in place as defined by the Care Act 2014 and relevant statutory guidance.
- assuring itself that safeguarding practice is person-centred and outcome focused.
- working collaboratively to prevent abuse and neglect where possible.
- ensuring 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.
In October 2022, SSAPB appointed Michelle Creed as the Independent Chair. The Partnership Board has an Independent Chair who is accountable to the Local Authority’s Executive Director (as lead statutory agency) but is appointed by statutory partners. 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 SAB.’’ (Care Act 2014, Care and Support Statutory Guidance 14.134).
Michelle and the Partnership Board are supported by a Business Team which consists of:
- Board Manager
- Support Officer
- Communications Officer
The Board meets five times per year plus one development day. The actions from the Board’s strategic plan are undertaken by Task and Delivery groups aligned to Strategic Pillars.
The Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board will oversee and seek assurance that relevant partners and commissioned services adhere to the six safeguarding principles throughout their safeguarding activity:
- Empowerment: people being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and give informed consent
- Prevention: it is better to take action before harm occurs
- Proportionality: the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented
- Protection: support and representation for those in greatest need
- Partnership: local solutions through services working with their communities – communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse
- Accountability and transparency in safeguarding practice
