Introduction
All children and adults with care and support needs who are at risk of abuse and neglect have the right to live their lives to the fullest potential, to be protected, to have the opportunity to participate in and enjoy any activity, and to be treated with dignity and respect.
Safeguarding is the process of protecting children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect from maltreatment and significant harm. It is also about preventing impairment of their health or development, ensuring they are growing up and living in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and taking action to enable all children and adults at risk to have the best outcomes.
We have both a moral and legal obligation to ensure a duty of care for children and adults at risk across its services. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults at risk are protected and kept safe from harm whilst they are engaged in services commissioned, organised or provided by the council. We believe that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility.
The purpose of this policy and its associated procedures is to help protect all children and adults at risk, including those in our communities or accessing our services and to protect Lichfield District Council, its staff, elected members and volunteers.
Definitions
Children for the purposes of this policy and procedure are those who are under 18 years old.
Adults at risk of abuse and neglect for the purpose of this policy are adults who:
- have needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and;
- are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
- as a result of those care and support needs are unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.
The adult experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect is referred to as the adult at risk throughout this policy.