Prevention Subgroup

Prevention Subgroup terms of reference, covering safeguarding prevention work, multi-agency collaboration, and reducing risk for adults.

Last updated: 24th June

These terms of reference were last reviewed in February 2026

Purpose

The Prevention Subgroup is established under the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Safeguarding Adults Board (SSASPB) to lead strategic work on the prevention of harm. The subgroup will identify system-wide issues, promote multi-agency collaboration and develop preventative approaches to reduce safeguarding risks and improve outcomes for vulnerable adults.

Remit

The subgroup is a formally constituted arm of the SSASPB and will focus on: 

  • Transitions (from childhood to adulthood) – includes: care leavers; SEND; trauma; and those with complex needs.
  • Rough Sleeping – includes: housing, health, substance misuse and financial inclusion.
  • Self-Neglect – includes: mental capacity; legal literacy; and community engagement.

Cross-cutting themes such as stigma, commissioning, escalation pathways, and multi-agency working will be considered throughout.

The subgroup will:

  • Develop and oversee a multi-agency prevention strategy and action plan aligned with SSASPB priorities (2025–2028).
  • Map services, gaps and escalation pathways. 
  • Address gaps in service provision, commissioning and policy, including making recommendations for commissioning and policy reform.
  • Promote early intervention and improved data sharing across agencies.
  • Ensure lived experience informs service design and delivery through an engagement plan for lived experience and community voice.
  • Develop a data dashboard to monitor and evaluate the impact of preventative initiatives.
  • Contribute to the SSASPB annual report.

Membership

  • Membership will include representatives from key partner agencies/groups:
    • Adult and Children’s Social Care - Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT)
    • Advocacy Services - ASIST
    • Domestic Abuse – Commissioners and Providers (2x Domestic Abuse Board leads, Community Safety Partnership leads)
    • Drug and Alcohol – Commissioners and Providers (Public Health, Stoke-on-Trent Community Drug and Alcohol Service (CDAS), Staffordshire Treatment and Recovery System (STARS)
    • Education and Youth Services - Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council
    • Health Commissioners and Providers - Integrated Care Board (ICB), Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT), University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM)
    • Housing and Homelessness Services (district/borough council representatives, SSASPB Rough Sleeper Champion and Deputy)
    • Mental Health Services - Commissioning and Providers (Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CAMHS), North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust (NSCHT)) 
    • Police - Staffordshire Police
    • Probation Services – HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) 
    • Voluntary and Community Sector - Support Staffordshire, Expert Citizens
  • Additional members may be co-opted based on emerging themes or expertise.
  • Members are expected to have sufficient knowledge, contribute actively and share relevant intelligence from their agencies.

Meetings and governance

  • The subgroup chair will be a strategic adult safeguarding manager of a SSASPB partner organisation. They will be nominated by and will report to the SSASPB Executive Group. They will be a member of the Executive Group and will attend Executive meetings.
  • A deputy-chair will be nominated and agreed by the subgroup and will cover in the absence of the Chair.
  • Meetings will be held every other month, with additional task and finish groups convened as needed.
  • The subgroup Chair and SSASPB team will coordinate agendas and actions.
  • Minutes and an action tracker will be administered by the SSASPB team and shared with members.
  • The subgroup will contribute to the SSASPB Annual Report and Strategic Plan.

Principles

The subgroup will retain a focus on adults with needs for care and support as defined by the Care Act 2014 to its work and have a regard for to racial diversity, language, culture, sexual identity, age and gender in its approach to all its performance monitoring activities.

The Terms of Reference will be reviewed annually or sooner if required by the SSASPB.