Scope of the Policy
The policy is in respect of the Council's responsibility towards:
- Children and young people, legally defined as any person under the age of 18. From this point the terms child or children will be used to refer to this group.
- Adults with care and support needs are defined under the Care Act 2014 and for the purposes of this policy, as anyone over the age of 18 who:
- has needs for care and support (whether the local authority is meeting any of those needs or not); and
- is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
- as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.
- The employees of the Council who have dealings with children, young people, and adults with care and support needs and who are required to act in a position of trust and to act responsibly and within the law.
- The employees and elected members of the Council who, while not required to act in a position of trust, will come into contact with members of these groups on a regular basis during the course of their work.
- Volunteers and other workers involved in the provision of council services but not employed by the Council, including workers in organisations with whom the Council has contracts for the delivery of services.
It covers all the functions and services of the Council, its elected members, staff and contractors.
This document is primarily concerned with protecting children, young people, and adults with care and support needs from harm and providing guidance on how to deal with issues. However, it is important to remember that safeguarding has a wider meaning which includes the promotion of welfare and taking action to enable all children, young people, and adults with care and support needs to have the best life outcomes.
The policy does not cover health and safety issues related to safeguarding children such as use of play equipment or provision of food at events. Separate guidance on this and appropriate behaviours when dealing with children and adults with care and support needs should be read in conjunction with this policy.
Where available this policy should also be used in conjunction with the following documents:
- Disciplinary Procedure
- Grievance Procedure
- Whistle Blowing Policy
- Access to Information Policy
- Acceptable Use of ICT Equipment Policy
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy (Due early 2021)
- Complaints & Feedback Procedure
- Bullying and Harassment Policy
- Health and Safety at Work guidance
- Domestic Abuse Policy for staff
- Domestic Abuse guidelines and further information for staff