BSAB Annual Report 2023-2024

Previous Years Annual Reports:

Statement from our Independent Chair Andy Rabey for the Annual Report 2023-2024:

I am pleased to introduce the 2023-24 Annual Report for the Bexley Safeguarding Adult Board. The annual report is a strategic requirement for the Board and acknowledges the challenges and achievement of the previous year. However, the most important aspect of the report is to reflect the commitment of all agencies to safeguard adults at risk in Bexley.

The Local Authority, Integrated Care Board, Metropolitan Police, and many other organisations come together to form the Safeguarding Board. We are committed to addressing strategic safeguarding issues and share learning, from good practice, error, and other experience to improve adult safeguarding.
This report will highlight the good work that agencies have delivered in supporting and protecting adults in Bexley. I was particularly pleased to be invited to attend and address the Bexley pensioners forum. I also supported the National Safeguarding Awards hosted by our own Practice Review and Learning Manager Anita Eader, and take part in a joint Children’s Partnership, Community Safety Partnership and Adult Safeguarding Board workshop on Self Neglect. It is a strength in Bexley that all Partnerships work collectively to make living in Bexley as good as it can be.

It is important that together as members of the Safeguarding Adult Board we continue to challenge ourselves to deliver better services, support people who are vulnerable in our communities and further identify practices which provide a collective response to Safeguarding.

In the coming year, I am keen to build on the progress highlighted in this report. In particularly I want to ensure an effective system is in place for learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews both in Bexley and across the Southeast London partnership. Build stronger connections with our partner agencies and community is important to me and so that is why I have been pleased to welcome our Bexley Safeguarding Board Lay Members whose presence and helpful contributions have improved the connection with our Bexley community. But we are keen to do more and in the coming year we will be looking to build further links with our community.
So please take time to read the detail within the report and feedback to us your views and thoughts on the work the board does and how we can ensure all agencies are working effectively to support and protect vulnerable adults in Bexley.