A new independent chair of the Cambridgeshire Safeguarding Adults Board has been appointed.
Natalie Cowland joins both the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Safeguarding Adults Boards from the Nursing and Midwifery Council where she was Head of Organisational Learning, Quality and Improvement. Before this she had a varied 30-year career with the Metropolitan Police Service which includes a significant background in multi-agency collaboration and safeguarding at a strategic level.
Natalie said: “I am absolutely delighted to be appointed to the position of Independent Chair and am looking forward to working with partners to continue the Board’s work, so that adults across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough receive necessary support and protection, and that the county is a safe place to live”.
Councillor Luis Navarro, vice-chair of the Adults and Health committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “I’m delighted to hear of Natalie’s appointment to the Cambridgeshire Safeguarding Adults Board.
“Her experience, alongside her commitment to protecting and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults will be invaluable in helping to strengthen safeguarding in Cambridgeshire.
“I look forward to working together, to further build on the strong foundations already in place, and to ensure that the good work of safeguarding in our county continues.”
As part of her role, Natalie will provide independent scrutiny, leadership, and strategic vision to the Safeguarding Adults agenda for both Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Natalie will lead the work with partners in preparing a Safeguarding Adults Strategy with annual delivery plans, setting out the short and longer-term actions of both Boards as a whole. She will also deliver an annual report on each Boards activities, including an assessment of the effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements and the challenges for the next year.
The Cambridgeshire Safeguarding Adults Board is made up of statutory partners: Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board, alongside other partners including Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, District and City Councils and other NHS providers. It is responsible for ensuring that vulnerable adults at risk of harm, neglect and exploitation across Cambridgeshire receive the help and protection that they need.
As a partnership both Boards work to:
- Prevent abuse and neglect
- Promote wellbeing and safety
- Respond quickly and effectively to reports of abuse and neglect
- Hold our partners and other agencies to account for undertaking this duty and scrutinise safeguarding actions and outcomes.
