About us

Who are the OSAB?

The Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB) is a multi-agency partnership that promotes the development of adult safeguarding work throughout Oxfordshire.

The Board consists of senior officers nominated by each of the main agencies who will be responsible for developing and maintaining strong and effective inter agency protocols to safeguard vulnerable adults from abuse. In addition, members have sufficient delegated authority to effectively represent their agency and to make decisions on their agency’s behalf.

Board Members are expected to commit to attending all four board meetings a year; members unable to attend ensure that a deputy attends on their behalf. If they are unable to attend Board Meetings for any reason they send a representative of sufficient seniority.

All member organisations are committed to implementing the Safeguarding Adults Board policies and procedures and work to achieve the following six key principles through the board’s strategy and strategic workplans:

  • Empowerment: taking a person-centred approach, whereby users feel involved and informed.
  • Protection: delivering support to victims to allow them to take action which protects them from further harm.
  • Prevention: responding quickly to all allegations of abuse.
  • Proportionality: ensuring outcomes are appropriate for the individual.
  • Partnership: information is shared appropriately and the person is involved.
  • Accountability: all agencies have a clear leadership role in promoting the key principles adopted by the Board.

The six key principles also follow government advice set out in the:

  • Care Act 2014
  • Joint protocol between Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS), Commission for Social Care Inspection and Association of Chief Police Officers of December 2003
  • Standards for Better Health 2004
  • Safeguarding Adults’ Standards published by ADASS in October 2005

In addition, the SAB is there to provide leadership and oversight of effective inter-agency collaboration on a statutory basis since April 2015.

The Board is currently Chaired by Sue Ross (Independent Chair) who we welcomed on 1st April 2019.  Please head over to our Latest News section where you will find more information about her appointment.

The Board is also supported by Steve Turner (Business Manager) and Helen Kershaw (Learning & Engagement Officer).

Frequency Of Meetings

Safeguarding Adult Board meetings take place four times per year, with an additional meeting each year for Business Planning and Review.

OSAB Annual Reports

Key Documents

Board Meeting Summary Chair Reports

These reports give an overview of the discussion had at the OSAB Full Board meetings. Partners and professionals are welcome to use these for briefing their organisations/teams on the work of the Board.