Agenda item

To consider the updated Safeguarding Policy and Procedures (report of the Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership which sought to approve the updated Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Conservation and Heritage introduced the report stating that Safeguarding covered a broad range of topics and to safeguard residents, there needed to be collaboration with other statutory services including adult social care, children’s social care and Lincolnshire Police.

Agencies worked together through countywide strategic partnerships including Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, Lincolnshire Safeguarding Adults Board and Safer Lincolnshire Partnership. SHDC needed a policy that was clear on the responsibilities for a district council, across services.

The key parts that the policy needed to cover to ensure that the Council was complying with their statutory duties were:

·         Having clear roles and responsibilities

·         Recognising abuse or concerns

·         Using Professional curiosity

·         Being clear on how to report a concern and escalate if needed

·         Recruitment and training

·         Responding to allegations

·         Supporting Staff

·         Audit

·         Appropriate Record Keeping and Information Sharing

The updated policy and procedures had an overarching framework for the Council which covered these areas and supported the Council to fulfil its statutory responsibilities and demonstrate competence and compliance. The policy had been presented to the Policy Development Panel on 24 May 2022 and amendments had been supported.

The following points were raised by those present:

• Hate and Mate crime was very serious as there could potentially be multiple victims over a period. Did the Lincolnshire Safeguarding boards work with similar boards across the borders in Cambridgeshire or Norfolk?
  • Officers confirmed that there can be cross border working for individual cases and that learning and best practice was shared across areas and boards.

• Concern was raised about the public perception of safeguarding - members had experienced frustration from residents who had attempted to report their concerns to  relevant agencies, only to be advised that  relatives needed to be involved for the concern to go any further. There needed to be a lower-level arrangement for residents to be able to raise their concerns about people within their community who did not necessarily need to be referred to social services.

• Members asked whether the Council gave any advice to community groups who had their own safeguarding policies as to what should be included within their procedures.
  • Officers confirmed that community and voluntary groups had their own safeguarding policies and procedures in place following feedback, the Safeguarding Children’s Partnership held regular briefing sessions via Zoom that groups could participate in.
  • It was suggested that it may be pertinent for an All-Member Briefing session to be held to explain to Councillors their duties in relation to safeguarding and how they could raise any concerns they had.

• Members praised horticultural and agricultural businesses within the district who had taken a lead and promoted the issues surrounding modern slavery.

• It was agreed that the public wanted a one stop shop to raise their concerns.

DECISION:

1. That the Safeguarding Policy and Procedures be approved;
2. That the Deputy Chief Executive – Communities, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Heritage, be delegated to approve any minor amendments to the Policy; and
3. That an All-Member Briefing session be held to make Councillors aware of their duties in relation to safeguarding and how they can raise their concerns about safeguarding issues within their wards.

(Other options considered:

• That the Council has 8 separate policies and procedures for Safeguarding Children, Safeguarding Adults a Risk, Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Hate Crime & Mate Crime, Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking, County Lines & Cuckooing and Preventing Violent Extremism – this option was not recommended as the overarching principles for each of these topic areas are the same and can be approached with a consistent framework.

Reasons for decision:

·         To ensure that the Council continues to fulfil statutory responsibilities to safeguarding children and adults.)