Twice a year we hold face to face meetings which bring all the LSAPs together in person. These are usually held in May and November at Aldiss park in Dereham, so as close to the centre of Norfolk as possible.

Prior to the pandemic, all the LSAP meetings were face to face in the individual localities, and while the shift to virtual meetings has been really positive for many, nothing can really match the value of being together in a room. By holding these dedicated sessions, we offer a chance to have proper conversations and really connect, including promoting county wide or cross boundary links.

The agenda covers some of the usual things like updates, but also gives us a chance to have subject matter experts in the room, who can help us all to better explore processes, ask questions, raise issues, cover themes in more depth.

We also have incredible cake, expertly baked by our Central LSAP chair Lucy, inviting joyful anticipation to the events!

May 2026

We set all our meeting themes by asking LSAP members and our Board what would be most useful for our multi-agency partnership groups to explore. Our theme for this session was to have a better understanding of safeguarding enquiries carried out under the statutory duty inferred on the local authority by section 42 of the Care Act 2014. 

Our guest presenter was one of the safeguarding adults team managers from adult social care, who worked through some of the most frequent queries about s42 enquiries, including helping us to better understand what 'care and support needs' are (facilitated through some group work and supported by the NSAB briefing on care and support needs), how to navigate raising a concern, what happens when the local authority are investigating, including delegated enquiries, and (always a hot topic!) what feedback to expect.

LSAP Survey May 2026

We also took the opportunity to ask members some question about the LSAPs through a short survey – we went ‘old-school’ with a paper version completed during the session, in part to recognise the survey / feedback fatigue in our modern times, and also to give the chance to win a copy of a certain book about Professional Curiosity in Safeguarding Adults (shameless plug!).

28 people completed the survey; for some people this was only their first or second meeting so not all of the responses were complete.

We asked about attendance and found that most people came to some meetings in the last 12 months - it can also be hard to remember how many you have been to when asked in the moment!

Nearly everyone read the notes from the meetings however, even if they couldn't make the actual meetings.

We asked how valuable people found the LSAP meetings - 19 out of 28 selected 'very valuable' and overall 93% said they were either very or quite valuable, which is excellent feedback.

We asked "what do you find most valuable?" - the responses told us that it is the opportunity for networking, information sharing, and open discussion.

Networking was definitely the most common response - in an increasingly automated system this aspect has even more importance - we know how essential good communication, constructive discussion and trust building can be in promoting professional curiosity, multi-agency collaboration and effective information sharing / risk assessment. Our face to face sessions in particular are designed to ensure there is always time given to that valuable aspect.

There is strong appreciation for learning through themed discussions, hearing about safeguarding best practice, and information from partner agencies and colleagues. The sessions foster a clearer understanding of processes, local issues, and available resources, enabling questions, professional curiosity, and seeing any trends.

We asked "has attending LSAP meetings helped you better understand or work with other agencies/organisation?" - the answer to this was a definite yes from 82% of those who answered.

89% of people felt that the LSAP meetings have influenced their safeguarding practice, decision-making, or awareness either significantly or somewhat - this is what the LSAPs are all about, so this is a really useful indicator that the groups have that wider impact.

We wondered if there is any specific information / material people could remember sharing back to their organisation/team as a result of attending an LSAP meeting. There were so many examples given, including learning from SARs and other reviews, seven minute briefings, case studies, information from guest speakers, key information, messages and myth busting too. 

A special thanks to everyone who does this, creating those positive ripples that spread ever more widely across our partnership.

Finally, we asked for ideas of what we can cover more of in the future, and again lots of ideas, with a definite ask of more guest speakers / subject matter experts, more on MCA especially around executive function, domestic abuse in older adults, transitions, dementia and safeguarding, hoarding and self-neglect, financial abuse and scams, honour based abuse, county lines, multi-agency responses.... as ever, the scope of safeguarding adults is a broad one! 

Thank you to everyone who attended and /or supported our May session - the next one is provisionally planned for Weds November 25th so watch this space for more detail nearer the time.