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Title |
Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy 2024-2028 |
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Purpose of the report |
To make a decision |
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Report Author |
Lisa Stonehouse Community Development Manager and Safeguarding Operational Lead |
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Ward(s) Affected |
All Wards |
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Exempt |
No |
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Exemption Reason |
N/A |
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Corporate Priority |
Community |
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Recommendations
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Committee is asked to: 1. Approve the Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy 2024-2028. 2. Delegate authority to the Strategic Safeguarding Lead in consultation with the Chair of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee to approve minor amendments and updates to the Policy. |
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Reason for Recommendation |
1. It is a statutory requirement for the Council to have a Safeguarding Policy. 2. Minor changes to procedures and personnel will inevitably occur and the policy will need updating to reflect this. Delegation of approval to the Chair and Strategic Safeguarding Lead for Safeguarding would expedite this process. 3. Any major changes or updates will require the Policy to be reconsidered by the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee. |
1. Summary of the report
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What is the situation |
Why we want to do something |
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• It is a statutory requirement for the Council to have a Safeguarding Policy to safeguard children and adults at risk. |
• The current safeguarding policy requires updating in order to comply with statutory requirements.
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This is what we want to do about it |
These are the next steps |
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• The new policy includes the updated information and procedures required to satisfy the statutory requirement to ensure that SBC safeguards children and adults at risk. |
• If Committee recommend that this policy is approved, it will be communicated to all staff and Cllrs via the council’s communication channels. • The procedures within the document will be implemented.
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1.1 This report seeks approval of the new Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy. (Appendix A).
1.2 It also seeks a recommendation to delegate authority to the Chair and the Strategic Safeguarding Lead to approve subsequent minor amendments to the policy such as procedure changes and telephone numbers.
1.3 The Corporate Policy and Resources Committee considered this policy on 15 October 2024. A Councillor suggested some minor amendments to the Safeguarding Children and Young People section. The amendments are highlighted in yellow in the policy.
2. Key issues
2.1 The Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) and the Surrey Adult Safeguarding Board (SSAB) have the statutory duty to lead safeguarding arrangements across the Surrey locality and oversee and coordinate the effectiveness of the safeguarding work of its member and partner agencies. Spelthorne Borough Council (SBC) is a partner agency of the SSCP and SSAB. SBC refers all safeguarding concerns to Surrey County Council (SCC) as they have the statutory responsibility for this in Surrey.
2.2 A robust Safeguarding Policy for both children and adults at risk is required to ensure that Spelthorne Borough Council complies with our statutory duty under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 and under the Care Act 2014.
2.3 The SBC Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy 2024-2028 has been written to update and replace the previous version and to satisfy the statutory requirement. It covers all aspects of safeguarding best practice as well as the national and local context upon which the policy is based. Upon approval it will be communicated to all staff and Cllrs via the council internal communication channels.
3. Options analysis and proposal
3.1 Option 1 is to approve the implementation of the new safeguarding strategy. The advantage of this is that the policy includes new information and procedures required to comply with the statutory safeguarding requirements. There are no disadvantages of this.
Option 2 is to make amendments to the draft policy attached to this report.
(The policy and procedures have been based on guidance from the Surrey Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and Surrey Safeguarding Adult’s Board. The policy has also gained approval from our Internal Safeguarding Strategic Board).
Option 3 is to not approve the implementation of the new safeguarding strategy. There are no advantages of this option. The disadvantage of this is that the existing policy does not include the new information and procedures required to comply with the statutory safeguarding requirements
4. Financial management comments
4.1 There are no significant financial implications in relation to the adoption of this strategy. SBC makes a partnership contribution of £1,416.00 per annum to the SSCPand £1055.00 per annum to the SSAB.
4.2 All staff undertake online safeguarding training and in house induction training. Frontline staff undertake additional external face to face training for which there is a charge of approximately £100 per delegate. In 2024 the cost of this will be approximately £3500. These members of staff will undertake training every 3 years. Councillors undertake basic induction training on election and will receive further training from the safeguarding operational lead within their term.
5. Risk management comments
5.1 There are significant risks associated with not having an up-to-date policy. There is a statutory duty to have sufficient safeguarding policies and procedures in place. SBC could potentially be found to be in breach of statutory duty or negligent if there was a safeguarding incident and correct procedures were not followed.
5.1 There are no risk implications arising from the Report as mentioned above a robust policy and procedures will help to reduce the risk.
6. Procurement comments
6.1 N/A .
7. Legal comments
7.1 There is a statutory requirement for the council to make arrangements for ensuring that its functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults at risk pursuant to the Children Act 2004 and the Care Act 2014.
8. Other considerations
8.1 N/A
9. Equality and Diversity
9.1 The Safeguarding Policy is relevant to the whole population. Residents may be more vulnerable to abuse due to their age, inability to protect themselves due to care and support needs or due to exploitation. This is outlined within the policy.
10. Sustainability/Climate Change Implications
10.1 The policy does not have an impact on sustainability/climate change issues.
11. Timetable for implementation
11.1 The policy will be implemented upon approval. The policy is a live document and minor changes will be made in accordance with 1.2. The policy will be updated in 2028.
12. Contact
12.1 Lisa Stonehouse (Community Development Manager and Safeguarding Operational Lead) L.Stonehouse@spelthorne.gov.uk
Background papers: There are none.
Appendices:
Appendix A Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy