The Health and Social Care Scrutiny Commission was scheduled to discuss the annual report of the Southwark Safeguarding Adults Board, the findings of a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) report on adult social care in Southwark, and an update on the Asylum Road Care Home project.

Southwark Safeguarding Adults Board Report and Interview

The commission was scheduled to interview Anna Berry, Independent Chair of the Southwark Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB), and review the board's annual report for 2024-2025. The report outlines the SSAB's vision and purpose, which is to ensure that all adults at risk in Southwark are safe and protected from harm, and that partners work together to support them in making informed choices and living full, independent lives. The report details the membership of the SSAB, which comprises senior leaders from various statutory and non-statutory organisations, including Southwark Council, the South East London Integrated Care Board (SEL ICB), and the Metropolitan Police Service.

The SSAB's work is supported by several subgroups, including the Executive Group, the SAR Subgroup (which considers cases for Safeguarding Adult Reviews), the Learning Network, and the Quality and Effectiveness Subgroup. The report also highlights the work of partner organisations in safeguarding adults, including the SEL ICB's involvement in the Southwark Serious Violence Duty Strategy and the NHS Sexual Safety in Healthcare Charter. It details initiatives such as the May Be Vulnerable flag in primary care and domestic abuse training for primary care staff. The report from Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust (GSTT) notes improved Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) activity and ongoing work to streamline the Trust's DoLS process. The London Ambulance Service (LAS) reported contributing to 51 Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) in 2024-25 and identified areas for practice improvement, such as the quality of Mental Capacity Assessments and professional curiosity. South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) reported advancements in its safeguarding agenda, with its Centralised Safeguarding Team receiving a Corporate Team of the Year award.

The report also covers communication and engagement strategies, the Safeguarding Adults Partnership Audit Tool (SAPAT), financial arrangements for the SSAB, and core adult safeguarding data. The SSAB's priorities for 2023-2026 include communication and involvement, strategic prevention and early intervention, making safeguarding personal, and learning development and assurance. Specific thematic areas of focus include managing complexity, transitional safeguarding, and homelessness. The report details learning from reviews, including SARs and Learning Disability Mortality Reviews (LeDeR), and outlines plans for 2025-26.

CQC Report on Southwark Adult Social Care

The commission was scheduled to review the Care Quality Commission (CQC) report on Southwark's local authority adult social care services, published on 27 February 2026. The report assesses the local authority's performance across various quality statements, including assessing needs, supporting people to live healthier lives, equity in experience and outcomes, care provision, integration and continuity, partnerships and communities, safe pathways, systems and transitions, safeguarding, and governance, management and sustainability.

The overall summary rates London Borough of Southwark's adult social care as Good. The report highlights strengths in person-centred and strength-based assessment and care planning, with committed and compassionate staff. It notes good multidisciplinary and multi-agency working, and effective signposting to community organisations. However, areas for development include longer waits for occupational therapy assessments, inconsistencies in carer support, and challenges in ensuring timely safeguarding investigations and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessments. The report also identifies a need for improved oversight of the local safeguarding adults board and better dissemination of SAR learning.

The report details the local authority's commitment to equity, with a thorough understanding of local inequalities and targeted strategies to address them. It commends the local authority's inclusion and accessibility arrangements and its work with the voluntary and community sector. Partnership working is described as good, with collaborative efforts to align strategic priorities and improve integrated health and social care. The report notes that while safeguarding systems are in place, there are shortfalls in training uptake and timely sharing of enquiry outcomes with partners.

Asylum Road Care Home Delivery

An update was scheduled regarding the Asylum Road Care Home project. This paper, dated 9 March 2026, provides information on the progress of the design workstream following the approval to enter into a land transaction with Andover Care Ltd. in November 2025. The legal agreement with Andover is nearing completion, with the Agreement for Lease anticipated to be signed by the end of March 2026. Andover has confirmed that once this is finalised, they will commence the design workstream, which will follow the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work stages. A planning application is expected towards the end of RIBA Stage 3.

The council's review of the designs will involve an external sector specialist, particularly focusing on good design for residents with dementia, including aspects like wayfinding, visual prompts, and spatial configuration. A shortlist of three organisations is being drawn up to invite fee proposals for this specialist review, anticipated to occur part-way through RIBA Stage 2.

In parallel, the council is compiling a list of consultees for Andover's consultation process. This list includes voluntary sector groups such as Time and Talents, Blackfriars Settlement group, Southwark Pensioners, Age UK, and the Alzheimer's Society, as well as Experts by Experience (families of people in care homes), nursing home staff, and local residents living within 100 metres of the site. Consultees will be invited to comment on the RIBA Stage 2 designs, with their feedback to be considered as the design team moves into Stage 3. The summary indicates the project is progressing at pace and in line with anticipated timescales.