Praise for Partners as Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Report Shows Improving Picture

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have praised the Council and all partners involved following the publication of the annual safeguarding vulnerable adults report for 2018/19.

The report, published by the Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board, reveals that there was a large increase in safeguarding concerns reported to Bedford Borough Council's Adult Safeguarding Team across the year. 2325 concerns were raised, compared to 1972 in 2017/18.

In the context of this rising demand, the report details a strong level of partnership working across the full range of safeguarding actitivities. The report also outlined the outcome of thematic reviews carried out into the State of the Care Market, Transition to Adulthood and End of Life Care.

The report was presented to last week's meeting of the Council's Adult Services Overview and Scrutiny meeting, after which Liberal Democrat Spokesperson Cllr Tim Caswell said:

"Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and it falls upon all of us to help ensure vulnerable adults are kept safe from abuse and exploitation. Protecting vulnerable adults requires all agencies to work together effectively. So it was encouraging to read and to hear of the strong level of effective partnership working, at a time when there has been another significant rise in the number of reports to the safeguarding team."