The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Harrow Council met on Tuesday 09 September 2025 to discuss the Harrow Safeguarding Adult Board (HSAB) Annual Report for 2024-25. The committee reviewed the board's activities, achievements, and areas for future focus, with particular attention paid to safeguarding data, partnership working, and engagement strategies.

Harrow Safeguarding Adult Board Annual Report 2024-25

The committee received and noted the Harrow Safeguarding Adult Board (HSAB) Annual Report for 2024-25. The report detailed the board's work in fulfilling its statutory duties under the Care Act 2014, focusing on preventing abuse and neglect, ensuring effective safeguarding arrangements, and learning from reviews.

Key discussions and points raised included:

• Safeguarding Data and Trends: The report presented data on safeguarding concerns and enquiries, noting that overall numbers remained similar to the previous year and were close to London averages. There were observed shifts in the types of abuse reported, with a decrease in self-neglect and domestic abuse concerns, and an increase in neglect, physical abuse, and financial abuse. The report attributed some of these changes to revised recording practices and increased staff vigilance. The increase in organisational abuse was noted as potentially a categorisation issue rather than a genuine rise, with further investigation planned. Concerns were raised about the increase in abuse within care homes, with a 3% rise from 11% to 14% of concerns. This was discussed in detail, with explanations offered regarding reporting variations and the automatic referral of certain incidents, such as unexplained bruises on non-verbal individuals. The committee requested further analysis into the drivers of this increase.

• Strategic Priorities and Achievements: The HSAB's four strategic priorities for 2024-27 were outlined: Prevention and Early Intervention, Assurance, Engagement and Communication, and Working in Partnership.

  • Prevention and Early Intervention: Achievements included the development of a new Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) Protocol, SAR Referral Form, and Information Sharing Agreement. The How Safe Do You Feel campaign was launched to encourage professionals to ask about domestic abuse concerns. The Disability Hate Crime Action Group was reinstated, and collaboration with Harrow's Care Provider Forum was strengthened.
  • Assurance: The approval of a Quality Assurance Framework was highlighted as a key achievement. Progress was made on renewing the HSAB Multi-Agency Learning and Development Strategy. Collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Service enhanced assurance around the Appropriate Adult Scheme. Work was underway to address recommendations from a ministerial letter regarding rough sleeping, with a local action plan being developed. A multi-agency data dashboard was agreed upon to improve decision-making.
  • Engagement and Communication: Efforts were made to capture feedback from adults at risk and their carers. The HSAB website was reviewed and redesigned for improved accessibility, with a planned launch in June 2025. National Safeguarding Adults Awareness Week activities included webinars and training sessions. Community outreach initiatives were being developed to raise awareness and gather feedback.
  • Working in Partnership: Collaboration with partners on Suicide Prevention Initiatives was ongoing. Joint campaigns and reporting with Safer Harrow and Harrow Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP) were strengthened, including a Joint Contextual Safeguarding Conference. Trauma-informed practice and transitional safeguarding were agreed upon as key implementation areas. Links with the Health and Wellbeing Board were developing, with a focus on addressing Severe and Multiple Deprivation.

• Partnership Working and Barriers: The Safeguarding Adults Partnership Audit Tool (SAPAT) indicated that 67% of respondents rated the overall effectiveness of the board as excellent. However, partners identified several barriers to effective partnership working, including staff workload, resource constraints, inefficiencies in meetings, frequent changes in personnel, and a need for better feedback mechanisms from service users. Areas for improvement identified included utilising multi-agency audits, applying the Mental Capacity Act, establishing clear escalation processes, and enhancing communication and representation from the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector.

• Specific Safeguarding Concerns:

  • Rough Sleeping: The board is focusing on supporting people who sleep rough, particularly those needing an Appropriate Adult, and implementing multi-agency safeguarding procedures.
  • Domestic Abuse: While there was a reported reduction in concerns and enquiries related to domestic abuse, the committee noted the importance of continued vigilance and collaboration with Safer Harrow. The How Safe Do You Feel campaign and the IRIS programme were highlighted as initiatives to increase routine inquiries about domestic abuse in health settings.
  • Homelessness and Housing: The report touched upon the challenges of temporary accommodation and financial pressures, with a mention of an overspend on housing in Harrow. Care leavers were discussed in the context of housing shortages, with alternatives like semi-independent and supported living being offered.
  • Hate Crime: The Disability Hate Crime Action Group has been reinstated to protect adults with additional needs from discrimination.
  • Contextual Safeguarding: A joint conference with the HSCP focused on contextual safeguarding, leading to commitments to implement trauma-informed practice and develop transitional safeguarding protocols.

• Budget and Funding: The HSAB's budget for 2024-25 was £173,042, with a net expenditure of £126,344 funded by Harrow Council. The Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Metropolitan Police also contributed. Concerns were raised about the uncertainty of future ICB and NHS budgets, and the HSAB had formally raised this with NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care.

• Learning and Development: The Learning and Development Subgroup has progressed a Training Needs Analysis and rolled out multi-agency training packages. A safeguarding training catalogue was completed, and a HSAB Learning and Development Strategy was drafted. Challenges included a lack of police representation at subgroup meetings and low engagement from some agencies in the TNA survey. Future plans include rapid development of the HSAB workforce development offer, focusing on key safeguarding areas, and expanding social media presence.

• Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs): 19 SAR referrals were considered, but none met the criteria for a full SAR. SAR C was completed, and its action plan is progressing. A revised SAR Protocol and Notification Form were developed. Learning from SARs A, B, and G was being implemented, including the establishment of a multi-agency High Risk Panel and a Disengagement Protocol for mental health service users.

The committee thanked the presenters for their detailed report and answers, and noted the actions to be taken.