Safeguarding Board

The Sutton Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) was established in 2009 and is a multi-agency partnership providing strategic leadership for adult safeguarding across the local authority area. It has an independent chair and its remit is to agree objectives, set priorities and co-ordinate the strategic development of adult safeguarding in line with multi-agency pan london policies. 

In Sutton we aim to safeguard and protect adults at risk so that they live a life free from abuse and neglect. Safeguarding adults means helping adults at risk, i.e. an individual with health and support needs, remain safe and exercise choice in their life. The SSAB works within the framework of the law and statutory guidance to strategically assure itself that local safeguarding arrangements and partners act to help and protect adults in Sutton who have or may have care and support needs and who are experiencing, or are at risk of, abuse or neglect in line with the requirements made in the Care Act 2014.

The SSAB acts as the key mechanism for agreeing how agencies will work together effectively to safeguard and promote the safety and well-being of adults at risk and/or in vulnerable situations. The SSAB aims to promote awareness and understanding of abuse and neglect among service users, carers, professionals, care providers and the wider community and works to generate community interest and engagement in safeguarding to ensure Safeguarding is Everyone’s Business. The SSAB is responsible for ensuring that the systems in place locally to protect people at risk are proportionate, balanced and responsive. The SSAB commissions safeguarding adult reviews in cases where there have been poor outcomes to ensure that lessons are learned.

The Safeguarding Adults Board is located at the Civic Offices in Sutton:

1st Floor,
Civic Offices,
St Nicholas Way,
Sutton, SM1 1EA

Email: ssab@sutton.gov.uk 

Phone: 020 8770 6770

The Care Act sets out that all Local Authorities must establish a SAB including core membership from the Local Authority, the NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the Police.

In addition other partner agencies are involved in the work of the SAB to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities and duties and reflect that safeguarding interventions can only be effective where there is collaboration and shared commitment.

The SSAB is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect.

SAB Members: 

The Board Vision is based on the rights of people to live a life free from harm where communities

• have a culture that does not tolerate abuse
• work together to prevent abuse
• know what to do if when abuse happens

All subgroups will have a chair agreed upon by the Board to ensure governance and accountability. Each subgroup delivers on the SSAB Strategic Annual Plan, reports on its priorities and informs the Safeguarding Annual Report.

Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) Subgroup

This subgroup considers requests to commission a SAR or learning review. Members ensure that the recommendations are progressed and learning is disseminated across the Borough

Quality, Practice and Performance Subgroup

Safeguarding and Quality Assurance leaders from partner organisations work together to oversee, support and monitor the quality of care across the Partnership to ensure that safeguarding standards keep people safe and minimise risk.

Learning & Improvement Subgroup

The L&I subgroup was set up in April 2023 to facilitate the continuous improvement of agencies’ performance in their safeguarding roles. It takes forward the actions from SARs, addressing themes identified and reviewing the L&D dataset to address training issues.

Community Engagement Subgroup

This subgroup focuses on increasing awareness of adult safeguarding across agencies and communities whilst emphasising the shared responsibility of citizens to report concerns. It runs initiatives either leading on hosting public awareness-raising activities or poster/ information campaigns.

Executive

The executive membership comprises the independent chair, subgroup and vice-chairs and representatives from the three statutory partners. They work together to review the Sutton SAB Strategic Plan progress and priorities. They maintain an oversight of the Board's work through the individual subgroups.