Thank you, Sue

The North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board said goodbye to its outgoing Independent Chair, Sue Proctor, at the end of March.

We want to take this opportunity to say thank you Sue for everything you have done, not least putting people at the very heart of everything we do.

Sue has been Chair since 2018 and has led the Board and partners through a great deal.

She has been an inspirational & tenacious leader who has not only challenged and held partners to account – but also been supportive and encouraging.

Through her leadership, she has helped us to refocus and prioritise. This has led to us collectively upping our efforts to ensure adults at risk are safe from abuse and neglect.

We will miss Sue immensely – but will continue to build on the legacy she has left behind.

Here are just some of the things she has carried out during her time as Independent Chair:

• Publication of 4 statutory safeguarding adult reviews (SARs).
• 6 non-statutory reviews commissioned and carried out.
• 13 statutory SARs commissioned.
• Led us through our first joint SAR (James) with children’s colleagues, strengthening our joint approach to learning and improvement.
• Led us through the implementation of joint safeguarding adult policy & procedure and new local arrangement .
• Publication of 5 statutory annual reports.
• 5 development days – leading to the clear strategic priorities.
• Led the Board through the COVID-19 pandemic – ensuring adults at risk remained safe.
• Strong focus on continuous learning, improvement and prevention.
• 2 statutory partners reorganisations (Integrated Care System & North Yorkshire Council).
• Strengthened our work and commitment to be an inclusive and accessible board.
• Strengthened our links with Public Health, not least through the work with Horizons – by giving them a seat at the table at our Learning & Review sub-group as well as a strong focus on drug and alcohol related deaths & suicide prevention.
• Championed the work of multiple disadvantages – particularly around homelessness, substance use and complex life circumstances.
• Understanding the importance of our non-statutory partners, such as Probation, Housing, Trading Standards, VSCE and Third Sector, in safeguarding and giving them a voice / seat at the SAB table.
• 5 safeguarding week campaigns – and since COVID-19 over 10,000 people have attended the online workshops.
• Emphasis on engagement & communications and championing this – this is evident in her ensuring we have a specific strategic priority around this.
• Supported our nationally recognised easy read Keeping Safe Guides that were coproduced with self advocates & Inclusion North.
• Actively supported the decision to appoint a self-advocate as the NYSAB Keeping Safe champion.

Thank you Sue