New Adult Safeguarding Board independent chair appointed

Article date: 15 July 2024

A well-known and respected figure in the NHS, Geoffrey has held a number of high-profile positions in his hometown, including Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospital and Chair of the St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) - and is currently the independent chair of St Helens Cares Place Partnership Board, and Deputy Chair of the St Helens People's Board, a joined-up multi-agency approach to improve health outcomes and tackle inequalities in the borough.

Mr Appleton's new role will see him act as independent chair for the local Adult Safeguarding Board, a partnership of agencies responsible for protecting the welfare of vulnerable adults in the borough - with a recent annual report highlighting adult safeguarding as going 'from strength to strength.'

Commenting on being named new independent chair of the Adult Safeguarding Board, Geoffrey said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as the Independent Chair of St Helens Safeguarding Adult Board having served in the borough for the last ten years and been a part of the St Helens Cares story. This seems to be the next part of my own journey in serving those most at risk in the borough and I look forward to working with all members of the board and other stakeholders."

Welcoming the appointment, Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Integrated Health and Social Care, said: "Geoffrey's commitment and service to St Helens over the years has made him very much part of our journey to transform our services to meet the standards we expect, not least through St Helens Cares - an award-winning, innovative partnership approach to address the rising cost and demand in adult social care for all ages."

Jamaila Hussain, St Helens Borough Council's Director of Adult Social Care, added:

"Promoting good health, independence, and care across our communities is among our key priorities as a council, so I'm delighted to welcome Geoffrey to the Adult Safeguarding Board as independent chair."