Latest news with #SomersetSafeguardingAdultsBoard
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Calls for change as six people die amid self-neglect
Widespread changes are set to be rolled out after a review into the deaths of six people who experienced self-neglect. The Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) looked at how the man and five women had been supported to see how care can be adapted to reduce the risk of future deaths. Professor Michael Preston-Shoot, SSAB's chair, said the review aimed to "learn lessons from the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths, who had all experienced things within their lives that lead to them neglecting to care for themselves, resulting in their deaths". The SSAB is calling for improved assessments and fresh training around self-neglect. More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset The review looked at the cases of six people who died between March 2020 and August 2023. They were aged between 58 and 79 and had a range of conditions including dementia, diabetes and motor neurone disease. They had failing health, engaged in risky behaviour and neglected their personal health, with some living in squalid conditions and withdrawing from society. Three repeatedly rejected offers of help. There was a delay in acting, or working with families and in some cases the means of communication were not appropriate, the review ruled. Self-neglect is slow to be picked up as a form of abuse or neglect and some agencies may not have training on recognising the signs, the review found. It also found there are long waits for assessment, and many agencies provide "only short, time-limited interventions". The review included a number of recommendations including development of guidance on engaging people who may refuse help. Professor Preston-Shoot said: "We have to support practitioners until they are really confident in conducting mental capacity assessments. "I think we also have to support practitioners more effectively to express compassionate inquiry... to endeavour to have conversations with an individual about what the history is, what lies behind the presenting issues." SSAB bosses held an event last week to identify good practice and reflect on the review. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Council 'failed' in care of alcoholic man 'Better training needed' after death of woman Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Calls for change as six people die amid self-neglect
Widespread changes are set to be rolled out after a review into the deaths of six people who experienced Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) looked at how the man and five women had been supported to see how care can be adapted to reduce the risk of future Michael Preston-Shoot, SSAB's chair, said the review aimed to "learn lessons from the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths, who had all experienced things within their lives that lead to them neglecting to care for themselves, resulting in their deaths".The SSAB is calling for improved assessments and fresh training around self-neglect. The review looked at the cases of six people who died between March 2020 and August 2023. They were aged between 58 and 79 and had a range of conditions including dementia, diabetes and motor neurone disease. They had failing health, engaged in risky behaviour and neglected their personal health, with some living in squalid conditions and withdrawing from repeatedly rejected offers of was a delay in acting, or working with families and in some cases the means of communication were not appropriate, the review is slow to be picked up as a form of abuse or neglect and some agencies may not have training on recognising the signs, the review found. It also found there are long waits for assessment, and many agencies provide "only short, time-limited interventions".The review included a number of recommendations including development of guidance on engaging people who may refuse Preston-Shoot said: "We have to support practitioners until they are really confident in conducting mental capacity assessments. "I think we also have to support practitioners more effectively to express compassionate inquiry... to endeavour to have conversations with an individual about what the history is, what lies behind the presenting issues."SSAB bosses held an event last week to identify good practice and reflect on the review.
ITV News
24-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Major safeguarding failures found at Somerset care campus after woman chokes to death
A review has exposed major safeguarding failures at a Somerset care campus run by the National Autistic Society, following the death of a vulnerable woman just one year after a separate scandal at the same site. The 60 year-old woman, referred to in the report via the pseudonym 'Hazel', had been diagnosed with autism, a learning disability, and Bell's palsy. She died in July 2019 after choking on a sandwich at Somerset Court in Brent Knoll and had lived on the campus, which housed multiple residential units for people with autism, since the age of 15. An independent Safeguarding Adults Review, published by the Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board, concluded that Hazel's death was preventable. It criticised serious shortcomings in her care, including poor risk management, a lack of coordinated support, family engagement and failure to follow her health care plans. Crucially, the report highlights that these failings occurred just a year after a damning safeguarding review into abuse at Mendip House, which was another residential unit on the same National Autistic Society site. Staff at Mendip House were found to have mocked and humiliated residents. Despite national scrutiny following the Mendip House scandal in 2018, the review found that the lessons were not learned or applied across the rest of the campus. Hazel's home was affected by high staff turnover, agency workers unfamiliar with her needs, and inadequate oversight particularly troubling for someone who relied on routine and consistency to manage her anxiety. The report also criticised agencies for failing to work together, failing to escalate repeated safeguarding concerns, and for not involving Hazel's family or providing advocacy when decisions about her care were being made. Speech and language therapy recommendations about Hazel's choking risk were known but not properly communicated to all staff. Since Hazel's death, a new Multi-Agency Risk Management (MARM) framework has been introduced locally, and all campus-style services like the one Hazel lived in are being phased out nationally under the Transforming Care programme. The review calls for urgent action to ensure that out-of-area placements for people with disabilities are subject to better oversight and regular review. It also recommends mandatory dysphagia and autism training for all care staff, especially those employed through agencies. Professor Michael Preston-Shoot, Independent Chair of the SSAB said: "The Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board exists to protect people at risk of abuse and neglect and to make sure lessons are learned so that necessary improvements can be made. "I want to take this opportunity to offer Hazel's family my sincere condolences for their loss." He added: "Hazel's tragic story has highlighted that further work is required to sharing information across our organisations to safeguard those with support & care needs and learning disabilities in Somerset. "I am pleased to see that the organisations involved were open to these improvements and lessons have been learned with many changes having already been implemented. I will now work with SSAB partners to ensure that this learning becomes normal practice."
