Policies and Procedures

Safeguarding Policy

Reviewed March 2023. Next review: March 2024

Safeguarding Officers: Angela Arden and Anna Seigneury

Policy Statement

In the interests of child protection and the welfare and protection of vulnerable persons, Great and Little Carlton Parish Council is committed to ensuring that children and vulnerable persons are protected and kept safe from harm whilst they are engaged in any activity associated with the parish council within the parish. A lost/found child and vulnerable persons is an integral part of this policy.

Aim

The aim of this policy document is to guide members of Great and Little Carlton Parish Council should any child protection issue or any issues with vulnerable persons arise during their work.

Objective

  • To ensure that where possible all activities offered by the parish council are designed and maintained to limit risk to children and vulnerable persons.
  • To promote the general welfare, health and development of children by being aware of child protection issues and to be able to respond where appropriate as a local government organisation.
  • To develop procedures in recording and responding to accidents and complaints and to alleged or suspected incidents of abuse and neglect.

Responsibilities and Procedures

A Safeguarding Officer will be appointed from within the council and in his/her role will:

  • Ensure that before any parish council organised event with children or vulnerable persons they brief all participants appropriately, including the procedures for dealing with a lost/found child and vulnerable persons;
  • Ensure that members are aware of the risk they may face in certain circumstances whilst carrying out their duties;
  • Ensure that whilst council members are unlikely to be involved with children during the performance of their duties they are mindful of the risk(s) they face;
  • Ensure that before any volunteers or paid members of staff are recruited to work with children and vulnerable persons, they are interviewed and two written references taken up;                                                     

Decisions on whether any person should be DBS* checked will be made by the Council or the Chairman after consultation with the Clerk following the completion of a risk assessment.

  • All new councillors are to be provided with a copy of the Safeguarding Policy and are required to acknowledge they will abide by it.
  • Councillors will adhere to the ‘List of Recommended Behaviour’ namely:   
  • A minimum of two adults present when supervising children.
  • Not to play physical contact games.
  • Adults to wear appropriate clothing at all times.
  • Ensure that accidents are reported to the clerk.
  • Never do anything of a personal nature for a young person.
  • Keep records on the parish cloud (Google Drive) of any allegations a young person may make to any committee member or volunteer. The records are available to all councillors via the cloud access.
  • If there is a child abuse incident it must be reported to the Safeguarding Officers who will be responsible for ensuring the matter is handled in accordance with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and referred to the council for further action as appropriate and future risk assessment.
  • Sharing information about child protection and good practice with partner organisations, councillors, employees, volunteers, parents and carers.
  • In the event of a contractor, working directly for the parish council, being deemed to be working in any area where children or vulnerable persons may be at risk, then that contractor will be asked to provide their Safeguarding Policy.

Any organisation which may contact children or vulnerable persons shall be required to show proof of its own appropriate Safeguarding Policy before being allowed to participate in the use of any council owned facilities.

Declaration

Great and Little Carlton Parish Council is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of children and vulnerable persons by protecting them from physical, sexual, emotional harm and neglect.

All members of Great and Little Carlton Parish Council should read the Safeguarding Policy.  Having read the Policy, they should be proactive in providing a safe environment for children and vulnerable people who are involved in parish council activities.

This policy will be reviewed annually in March.

*The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) have merged to become the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). CRB checks are now called DBS checks.