Safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect policy

The scope of this policy is to:

• understand the district council roles and responsibilities
• outline the legislative framework
• identify the different types and indicators of abuse
• set out the factors that increase the risk of abuse..

This policy covers safeguarding children and adults.

We have a legal responsibility to safeguard, promote wellbeing and protect children and adults at risk.

We will aim to comply with our duties by:

• respecting and promoting the rights, wishes and feelings of children and adults at risk
• raising awareness of the duty of care responsibilities relating to children and adults at risk throughout the council
• promoting and implementing appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of children and adults at risk to protect them from harm
• creating a safe and healthy environment within all our services, to protect all parties and reduce the risk of abuse or allegations of abuse from occurring
• recruiting, training, supporting and supervising staff, elected members and volunteers to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children and adults at risk from abuse, and to also minimise any risks to themselves
• responding promptly to any suspicions or allegations of misconduct or abuse of children or adults in line with the Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) inter-agency policies and procedures for safeguarding children and promoting their welfare and the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership adult safeguarding enquiry procedures
• requiring staff, elected members and volunteers to adopt and abide by our safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect policy and procedures, codes of conduct and associated policies and procedures,
• reviewing and evaluating this policy, the supporting procedure and guidance on an annual basis or in line with best practice, changes  in legislation, organisational requirements and service delivery.
• ensuring representatives of Lichfield District Council who have contact with children, young people or adults at risk are subject to safer recruitment procedures. This also applies when the council is working in partnership with other private, voluntary or contracted organisations and employees to deliver services to children and young people and adults at risk.