Our safeguarding policy

Roles and responsibilities

We recognise that, whilst carrying out their normal duties, some members of staff and volunteers are responsible for, or work with children, young people and adults at risk. Other members of staff and volunteers may come across children, young people and adults at risk in the course of carrying out their normal duties. Working for a council implies trust and respect which can lead to a child or adult at risk feeling comfortable enough to disclose an incident of current or previous abuse or make it easier for someone in a responsible position to abuse that trust.

We want to be certain that all the services it provides to children, young people, and adults at risk, and their families and carers are designed to ensure that they are treated with respect and kept safe from harm.

All employees and volunteers working with children, young people and adults at risk of abuse, should receive appropriate training to assist them:

in the recognition of abuse
to adopt good working practices
to identify the designated safeguarding officer(s), who staff can contact about safeguarding issues
to know what to do if they have safeguarding concerns

It is not the role of the council to decide whether a child or adults at risk has been abused or not. This is the task of the statutory protection agency (Staffordshire County Council) which has the legal responsibility. It is however, everybody’s responsibility to ensure that concerns are shared and appropriate action taken.

Staffordshire County Council has legal responsibility for investigating allegations of abuse.

Areas of specific responsibility

We can safeguard, promote wellbeing and protect children and adults at risk in several ways:

Raising awareness of signs and reporting mechanisms with employees, elected members and volunteers and providing training appropriate to their needs.
Ensuring we follow safer recruitment procedures.
Working effectively with other agencies to safeguard children and adults at risk.

Some services have a more direct relationship with children, young people, adults at risk and their families. However, any safeguarding concerns may be raised and a referral made by members of any team which come into contact with these groups whether via home or premises visits, when out and about in the district or in a public reception.

Housing

The housing options and homelessness team is very often the first point of contact with vulnerable families and homeless 16, 17 year olds and as such, may identify potential safeguarding issues.

Environmental health and licensing

Most of the legislation where the teams have an administration or an enforcement role make reference to children and their well- being or safety. In particular, the Licensing Act 2003 has as one of its four policy objectives, ‘the protection of children from harm’. Whilst the police act as the responsible authority, officers have responsibility for raising awareness, looking out for any signs that there could be safeguarding issues and taking account of safeguarding in policy development and the delivery of training and any campaigns.

Environmental heath officers have a wide enforcement role which includes inspecting a range of premises where there is the potential for them to identify safeguarding issues – e.g late night food take aways, licensed premises, taxi operators, gambling venues, houses in multiple occupation and residential properties.

The use of taxis to traffic young girls for child sexual exploitation was highlighted in the report on child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Rotherham. Although a small number of drivers across the country have been involved in CSE, there is no evidence that this is the case in Lichfield. However they do have a key role to play in identifying and reporting potential CSE and this is the focus of the approach being taken in Lichfield District.

All of the drivers who apply to become licensed Hackney and/or private hire drivers must have an enhanced DBS check and in July 2015 the regulatory and licensing committee agreed to make the following mandatory:

Introduction of CSE safeguarding booklet for all taxi drivers
Addition of CSE questions to new driver test
Driver to have ‘CSE report it’ card
Drivers to attend CSE training event
Second (larger) driver badge displayed on vehicle dash board

Leisure and parks

We deliver a wide range of opportunities to participate in sport and leisure activities through its health and wellbeing team members, parks staff and working in partnership with our commissioned leisure facility service provider. This includes coaching, special events and specialist programmes. Staff and volunteers will have different levels and types of contact with children and adults at risk who use these services but all are required to be alert to any safeguarding issues. Relevant staff are also required to have a DBS check.

The commissioned leisure facility service provider, Freedom Leisure are required to meet statutory guidelines regarding safeguarding and industry best practice. Non-compliance would result in formal action being taken as defined in the outsource contract.

Community safety

The community safety team may come into contact with children, young people and adults at risk who are the victims or perpetrators of anti-social behaviour or who live in families involved in anti-social behaviour. They also attend the weekly Community Safety Partnership Hub meeting where concerns that fall below safeguarding thresholds can be raised so that a multi-agency response can be co-ordinated.

Roles and responsibilities of elected members and leadership team

To be responsible and accountable for the implementation and monitoring of the Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk of Abuse and Neglect Policy and procedure
To ensure that the safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect policy and procedures are implemented and embedded in practice within each directorate
To consider the implementation of the safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect policy and procedure through an annual report on safeguarding
To appoint a member lead for safeguarding (the cabinet member for community)
To give leadership responsibility to the strategic director of community, housing and health for the organisation’s safeguarding arrangements.

Roles and responsibilities of the designated safeguarding officer

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Lucy Robinson and the Deputies are Paul Anderson, Chris Brewerton and Alex Lane. The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Lichfield West Midlands Trading Services(LWMTS) is Sarah Sleigh.

To promote and advise on this policy and associated procedure and its application
To receive and record information from elected members, employees and volunteers who have concerns
To assess information about concerns raised promptly and carefully
To consult with the appropriate statutory protection agency to test out any doubts or uncertainty about the concerns as soon as possible
To advise and signpost where a concern raised is not identified as a safeguarding issue
To liaise with HR if the allegation involves an employee
To make a formal referral to Staffordshire County Council without delay where abuse is suspected
To promote and monitor employee compliance with the required training
To maintain records of reported incidents
To liaise with safeguarding leads for directorates and arrange quarterly meetings of the corporate group established for this purpose
To respond to information requests from the local authority designated officer and in respect of any serious case reviews
To produce an annual report summarising safeguarding activity
To keep up to date with any legislative or other safeguarding developments and changes to Staffordshire Children and Adult Safeguarding Board procedures
To liaise with colleagues in other Staffordshire districts and elsewhere to learn from and identify good practice

Safeguarding leads by directorate

To promote safeguarding within their service, offer advice and support to colleagues and share good practice.

A list of directorate safeguarding leads is available on the safeguarding area of the intranet.

Roles and responsibilities of all employees and volunteers

To follow this safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect policy and the associated procedure
To attend required training
To report any allegations or suspicions of abuse

Roles and responsibilities of heads of service, managers and supervisors

To follow our recruitment and selection process, including:
- checking the appropriateness of referees and the content of references for all new temporary, permanent and casual employees.
- ensuring all necessary documentation is completed for casual staff and potential volunteers before they take up post
- ensuring that appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks are carried out on posts that have been identified as requiring a disclosure.
To ensure that at induction, all new employees, (including casual staff), whose work may bring them into contact with children and adults at risk, are:
- informed about this policy and procedure (including how to report concerns, who the designated safeguarding officer(s) are and directorate safeguarding contacts)
- given a copy of the safeguarding leaflet
- told how to access this policy and the supporting procedure
- advised of training options and their needs discussed
- give written confirmation that this has taken place (this can include both manager and employee signing the induction checklist)
To support any member of their team who is reporting suspicions or allegations of abuse
To ensure that the required training for their team is carried out and refreshed as required and that new employees have received or have booked on the appropriate training within 3 months of appointment.
To notify the designated safeguarding officer of any child or adult at risk safeguarding concerns brought to their attention.

Roles and responsibilities of HR

To lead on the council’s compliance with its recruitment and section policy, including requirements under the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) regulations, references and induction
To respond to reported incidents concerning staff and maintain records concerning any allegations
To work with managers and supervisors to ensure that the required training is available and delivered
To implement the council’s related HR policies and procedures including recruitment and selection, safer recruitment and disciplinary and grievance policies.