Hundreds of concerns over abuse and neglect are raised every month about Sefton’s most vulnerable residents.
Data revealed in papers released by Sefton Council this week show the scale and pattern of abuse and neglect in the borough, with most cases occurring in people’s own homes.
In a report produced ahead of a meeting of the council’s adult social care and health scrutiny committee, which is due to be held next week, it states that Sefton Council received over 2,500 contacts last year, about safeguarding issues – equating to over 200 contacts each month.
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According to the report, while the figures for safeguarding contacts is now around the levels pre-pandemic, the extent to which these become referrals has “increased significantly.”
However, the report states that this could be because of a change in the way safeguarding issues are being reported rather than due to a rise in incidents, with the figures for Sefton comparable to the rest of the north west region.
The report notes that most abuse of vulnerable adults in Sefton recorded takes place in a person’s own home.
With rates at around 125 per 100,000 people this figure is significantly lower than compared to the rest of the north west, however, where 200 per 100,000 instances of abuse in a person’s own home was recorded over the past 12 months.
Sefton has higher levels of care home abuse than the rest of the north west, although the report suggests these figures could reflect the higher number of care homes compared to elsewhere in the region.
The borough has over 130 care homes looking after around 3,000 vulnerable adults. While some of these are council funded, others are funded by the NHS and some are private.
In all of these settings, the council has an obligation to investigate concerns over neglect or abuse involving adults with care or support needs.
According to the report, common themes were identified following safeguarding investigations. These involved issues over a lack of experienced care and clinical staff and a failure of owners to engage on a day-to-day basis with the homes.
The report added that owners were often unaware of events which had taken palce by the time the council came to investigate.
Once issues are identified the council’s quality assurance team works, usually in conjunction with the Care Quality Commission, to raise care home standards.
This may involve help with funding for improvements or technology and support with issues such as recrutiment, according to the report. The council’s safeguarding adults board also takes the lead in addressing issues that arise.
The report is due to be discussed at the meeting at Bootle Town Hall on Tuesday October 18 where councillors will consider the report and decide whether a more detailed update will be required for future meetings
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