The role of Safeguarding Adult Boards (SABs)
Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs) are responsible for ensuring agencies work together effectively to protect adults abuse and neglect. They ensure local arrangements work to prevent harm and effectively support adults who are at risk or have experienced abuse or neglect.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and applies to the protection of adults (those aged 18 and over), who
- have needs for care and support
- are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect
- as a result of those care and support needs are unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.
The Care Act 2014 and Care and Support statutory guidance set out the three duties of SABs:
- to develop and publish a Strategic Plan which sets out how to achieve their objectives and how their member and partner agencies will contribute to this plan
- to publish an annual report detailing the learning and activity of the previous year
- to undertake Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) where the criteria is met to learn how we can improve safeguarding practice
The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board (SSASPB) is a joint Board, responsible for safeguarding adult arrangements across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The SSASPB Constitution further outlines our core aims, partner responsibilities and how we operate as a SAB.
Our partners
Statutory membership: Statutory partners defined in the Care Act 2014 as Local Authorities, Clinical Commissioning Groups and Police.
The Health and Care Act 2022 received Royal Assent in 2022 and with effect from July 2022, Clinical Commissioning Groups were disbanded with the establishment of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs).
The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Safeguarding Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board (SSASPB) statutory partners are:
- Staffordshire County Council
- Board member - Strategic Director (Adult Social Care)
- Stoke-on-Trent City Council
- Board member - Strategic Director (Adult Social Care)
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB)
- Board member - Chief Nursing Officer
- Staffordshire Police
- Superintendent Local Policing and Partnerships
Other members of the Board
The wider membership is made up of local partners who have specific responsibilities or contribute to the effective protection of adults with care and support needs in the area. These partners are named in our Constitution and include health and social care providers, Healthwatch, emergency services, housing services, probation and prison links, private/independent and voluntary providers and representatives of community and voluntary groups who capture the voices of adults, carers and their families.
Joining the Board
Local agencies can express an interest in joining the Board and/or it's subgroups to contribute to activity and support the implementation of learning across services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. If you have an interest in being involved in SAB activity, please contact the team at ssaspb.admin@staffordshire.gov.uk