Our safeguarding policy

LDC has a legal responsibility to safeguard, promote wellbeing and protect children and adults.

This includes:

• Respecting and promoting the rights, wishes and feelings of children and adults.
• Raising the awareness of the duty of care responsibilities relating to children and adults throughout the council.
• Promoting and implementing appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of children and adults, 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.
• All employees and volunteers working with children, young people and adults at risk of abuse, will 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
• Responding promptly to any suspicions or allegations of misconduct or abuse of children, or adults in line with the Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP), inter-agency policies and procedures for safeguarding children and promoting their welfare, and the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board (SSASPB) safeguarding procedures.
• Requiring staff, elected members and volunteers to adopt and abide by the council’s safeguarding policy and procedures, Codes of Conduct and associated procedures.
• Reviewing and evaluating this policy and associated procedure on an annual basis or in line with best practice, changing legislation, organisational requirements and service delivery.
• Ensuring representatives including partnerships with private, voluntary or contracted organisations of LDC who have contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults, are subject to safer recruitment procedures.
• There is a duty under Section 11 of the Children’s Act 2004 for the council to be committed to safe employment, and safe recruitment practices, that reduce the risk of harm to children from people unsuitable to work with them or have contact with them. The council has policies and procedures that cover the recruitment of all employees and volunteers. Additionally, staff, elected members and volunteers:
  • Should not begin any regulated activity involving direct access to children or adults at risk prior to the council receiving a satisfactory DBS check in accordance with the DBS policy.
  • Should be aware of this policy and procedure, and of any local or national related policies / procedures that are applicable for their service area, as part of their induction programme.
  • Are required to complete mandatory safeguarding training upon induction and any supplementary training as required. 
  • Are required to be aware of appropriate and inappropriate behaviour when working with children and adults at risk.
  • Are required to know who their Designated and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officers are and are required to seek advice or assistance from their Designated Safeguarding Officer if they are unsure of what to do with their concerns about a child or adult at risk. Staff should also be aware of the Directorate Lead for their team who they will be able to discuss concerns with.
  • Have a responsibility to take action when they have concerns, witness or hold information that relates to the abuse of a children and adults at risk as detailed in the procedure document. 
  • Are required to be aware of the council’s policy and procedures regarding the use of mobile phones, and any digital technology, and understand that it is unlawful to share images and content on any digital platform, without the explicit consent of the person with parental responsibilities

Internal safeguarding procedures are available for all staff and elected members to review via SharePoint or as printed documents.