Liberal Democrats call for stronger action on adult safeguarding in Warwickshire

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, Liberal Democrats

Everyone deserves to feel safe, to be treated with dignity and to have their voice heard when they need help.

That is why the Warwickshire Safeguarding Adults Board’s Annual Report for 2025–26 deserves close attention. It sets out work being undertaken by agencies across Warwickshire, but it also highlights some important questions about the outcomes being achieved for adults at risk.

For me, the central issue is straightforward: how do we know that safeguarding is making a real difference to people’s lives?

Self-neglect is a growing concern

One of the clearest trends in the report is the increase in self-neglect.

Self-neglect accounted for 30.7% of Section 42 safeguarding enquiries in 2025–26, compared with 21.3% in the previous year.

That increase needs to be understood. What is driving it? Are people’s needs being recognised early enough? Are agencies able to work together effectively when someone is reluctant or unable to engage with support? And are interventions preventing problems from escalating?

The figures alone do not tell us the answers, but they make it essential that the right questions are asked.

What happens when outcomes are not achieved?

The report records that 272 people or their representatives expressed desired outcomes through the safeguarding process.

Of these, 142 had their desired outcomes fully achieved, 84 had them partly achieved and 46 did not have them achieved.

Every case will be different, and there may be circumstances in which a person's wishes cannot be fully realised. However, we need to understand what happens when outcomes remain unmet.

Is the risk reviewed? Is further support offered? Are people and their families kept informed? And can agencies demonstrate that appropriate action has been taken to protect the individual?

Recording an outcome is not the end of the process. We must also understand what it means for the person concerned.

Complex problems need joined-up responses

The report highlights themes including homelessness, mental health, substance and alcohol dependency, exploitation, self-neglect and difficulties coordinating care.

These challenges do not fit neatly within the boundaries of one organisation. They require effective cooperation between councils, the NHS, social care, housing, the police and community organisations.

The report describes partnership initiatives, including work on homelessness and multi-agency approaches to people at significant risk. The next step must be to demonstrate what difference these initiatives are making.

For example, are people being supported into more stable accommodation? Are repeat safeguarding concerns reducing? Are agencies resolving disagreements about responsibility more effectively? Are people receiving help before they reach crisis point?

These are the kinds of measures that would help the public and councillors understand whether services are improving.

Protecting safeguarding capacity through change

The report also raises concerns about the potential impact of organisational restructuring, including changes affecting NHS safeguarding arrangements. The Board’s Chair highlights the risk of losing organisational memory and oversight.

These concerns matter as Warwickshire faces further changes to local government arrangements.

Reorganisation must not create uncertainty about who is responsible for protecting adults at risk. Partnership working, experienced staff, reliable information-sharing and clear accountability must be maintained throughout any transition.

We need reassurance that safeguarding expertise will be retained, responsibilities will remain clear and any gaps in capacity will be identified and addressed.

What should happen next?

As Liberal Democrats, we want to see constructive scrutiny that leads to improvement. I believe Warwickshire’s safeguarding partners should be asked to provide clear answers on five priorities:

1. Self-neglect: explain the increase and set out the action being taken to identify and support people earlier.
2. Unachieved outcomes: explain how unmet or partly met desired outcomes are reviewed and how continuing risks are addressed.
3. Repeat concerns and serious harm: measure whether interventions prevent situations from escalating or recurring.
4. Homelessness and complex needs: demonstrate the impact of multi-agency work, not simply the number of meetings or referrals.
5. Accountability through change: set measurable targets, identify who is responsible and report regularly on progress.

I also want to see greater attention to whether people feel listened to and safer as a result of the safeguarding process, alongside appropriate consideration of their wishes, circumstances and individual needs.

Putting people first

This report recognises work being undertaken by many dedicated professionals and partner organisations. The aim should not be to undermine that work, but to ensure that the system learns from experience and is honest about where improvement is needed.

Adult safeguarding should never be judged by activity alone. It should be judged by whether people are protected, whether their voices are heard and whether support makes a meaningful difference.

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse said:

“People who are vulnerable deserve more than a process. They deserve a system that listens, acts, learns and can show that it is making them safer. We need clear priorities, measurable outcomes and accountability for delivering improvement.”

That is the standard Warwickshire should aim for — and the standard against which progress should be measured.

Click for Annual Report Adult Safeguarding