Written question asked by Sally Keeble (Labour) on Monday, 25 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 27 January 2010. It was answered by Phil Hope (Labour) on Monday, 1 February 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Social Services: Vulnerable Adults

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department made of the quality of reports of serious case reviews on vulnerable adults in each local authority area in the last two years.

Answer: No assessments have been carried by central Government on the quality of reports of serious case reviews. Serious case reviews are commissioned by local Safeguarding Adults Boards (SAB), which are set up by local authorities. SABs have a large number of local members, including representatives from the National Health Service, police and the voluntary sector. Many boards have jointly agreed protocols about when and how to commission a serious case review and will jointly agree terms of reference and will jointly agree the final report.The Government have commissioned research by Kings College London and Social Care Workforce Research Unit on serious case reviews, which is on the Department's website at:"www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Deliveringadultsocialcare/Vulnerableadults/Research/index.htm"A copy has been placed in the Library.In response to the Government's consultation on strengthening protection for vulnerable adults, new legislation will be introduced to enshrine in law the need for each local area to work to a statutory SABs and we will set in train a programme of work to lead and support all agencies involved in safeguarding adults. There will also be a new cross Government ministerial group which will oversee the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, set priorities, work up new policy and provide national leadership.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 505 c66W; 314050
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP2010-0288
Monday, 1 February 2010
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects: Vulnerable adults Social services
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk