How the Board works
CSAB is a statutory body, which works in partnership with organisations across Cumbria to help protect adults with care and support needs from abuse or neglect.
The primary objective of CSAB, is to assure itself that local safeguarding arrangements and partners act to help and protect an adult in its area who:
- has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and
- is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect and;
- as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect (s42 Care Act 2014)
The Board aims to ensure that adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect are enabled to:
- live as safely and independently as possible
- make their own decisions
- take control of their own lives
Our core duties
CSAB has 3 core duties it must do:
- Publish a strategic plan for each financial year that sets out how it will meet its main objectives and what the members will do achieve this.
- Publish an annual report detailing.
- Conduct Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SAR) in accordance with Section 44 of the Act.
1. Publish a strategic plan for each financial year
The strategic plan should set out how it will meet its main objectives and what the members will do achieve this.
CSAB publish a rolling 3-year strategic plan setting the strategy for the period. This is reviewed annually supported by Annual Business Plans with progress reported and published in an annual report.
The strategic plan describes how CSAB and partner agencies will work together to protect adults with care and support needs identifying priority areas. The plan will be informed by data analysis with engagement and feedback from stakeholders and community experiences.
Read our latest strategic plan.
2. Publish an annual report
- what CSAB has done during the year to achieve its main objective and implement the Strategic Plan
- what each member has done to implement the strategy
- the findings and subsequent action from any Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) concluded in the year
The Annual Report is published as soon as is feasible at the end of each financial year and must be shared with:
- Chief Executive of Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils
- Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable
- Healthwatch Cumbria
- Health and Wellbeing Board
Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) means that the process should be person led and outcome focussed enhancing the individual’s involvement, choice and control together while seeking to improve the quality of life, wellbeing and safety.
Read our latest annual report.
3. Conduct Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SAR) in accordance with Section 44 of the Act
A SAB must arrange a SAR when an adult in its area dies because of abuse or neglect, whether known or suspected and there is concern that partner agencies could have worked more effectively together.
A SAR must also be arranged if an adult has not died but the SAB knows or suspects that the adult has suffered serious abuse or neglect resulting in significant harm from which there is no recovery (including psychological harm). CSAB have developed guidance which outlines the process for making a referral for a SAR, the decision making and methodologies to ensure that we promote effective learning and improvement to prevent future deaths or serious harm.
How we work together
CSAB brings together senior executives and organisational leads from partner agencies in Cumbria meeting on a quarterly basis. The Board executives are supported by a structure of sub-groups with task and finish groups established as required. These groups undertake the Board’s business, delivering the strategic priorities through an annual business plan.
The Board is further supported by a Business Group comprising of the Independent Chair, Board Manager, subgroup Chairs including all statutory partners to support the planning of board business and review progress on delivery of the Strategic and Business Plan.
The SAB has a strategic role with partners and provides a forum to discuss and agree:
- areas for improvement
- guidance for practitioners, commissioners, and service providers
- approaches to the prevention of abuse or neglect including self-neglect
- the role of the Board working in collaboration with other strategic partnerships
CSAB will facilitate and maintain links with other relevant strategic Boards in Cumbria through a joint protocol including:
- Health and Well Being Board
- Safer Cumbria (Community Safety Partnerships)
- Cumbria Safeguarding Children’s Partnership
CSAB receive assurance through quarterly highlight reports from the 4 sub-groups:
- Performance and Quality Assurance
- Communication and Engagement
- Learning and Development Safeguarding Adult Reviews
For more information, read our Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board Members Guide 2024 (PDF)
Who is represented in the Board
The Board includes representation from:
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Cumberland Council - Director of Adult Services
- Cumberland Council - Quality and Resources
- Cumbria Constabulary
- Cumbria Fire and Rescue
- Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Healthwatch
- His Majesty's Prison Service, Haverigg
- Independent Chair
- Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust
- Lay member
- NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
- NHS North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
- North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
- North West Ambulance Service
- North West Probation Service
- Recovery Steps Cumbria, Humankind
- University Hospitals Morecambe Bay Trust
- Westmorland and Furness Council - Director of Adult Services
- Westmorland and Furness Council - Safeguarding