Purpose of Policy 

The purpose of the Safeguarding Policy is to provide a framework for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults.

 

This policy applies to:

  • councillors
  • staff
  • volunteers
  • contractors
  • anyone working on behalf of the council

 

The policy aims to ensure that:

  • All children, young people and adults are safe and protected from harm;
  • Other council policies and procedures support children, young people and adults to feel safe and adopt safe practices; and
  • Everyone is aware of the expected behaviours and St Stephen in Brannel Parish Councils legal responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults.

 

Policy Statement 

This policy sets out the procedures and good practice to ensure that everyone understands their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council does not tolerate abuse or exploitation of children and expects all concerns to be acted upon promptly, with appropriate support for victims and referral of concerns to the relevant authorities.  This policy has been developed in line with government legislation, publications and guidance.

 

The parish council takes seriously its responsibility under current legislation and guidance to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults; and to work together with other agencies to ensure that there are adequate arrangements within our organisation to identify and support those who are suffering harm. Where someone is suffering significant harm, or is likely to do so, action will be taken to protect that person.

 

The Council has a responsibility to make sure that it has an effective safeguarding policies and procedures in place and monitors that the council complies with them. The Council has appointed a Safeguarding Lead who has responsibility for dealing with all safeguarding issues.

The Council recognises that for this policy to be effective, it is essential that everyone working in and for the Council has an understanding of what safeguarding is, know that ‘safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility’, know how to access safeguarding information, know of any possible contribution that they may be required to make to safeguard children, young people and adults and how to access further advice, support or services.

 

Individual responsibilities 

The Council recognises that safeguarding is not just about protecting children, young people and adults from deliberate harm. It also relates to health and safety; meeting the needs of children, young people and adults with medical conditions; providing first aid; visits organised or sponsored by the council; internet or e-safety; appropriate arrangements to ensure security, taking into account the local context.

 

Additionally, we recognise that safeguarding can involve a range of potential issues such as: bullying, including cyberbullying (by text message, on social networking sites, and so on), peer on peer and prejudice-based bullying; racist and homophobic or transphobic abuse; sexting; substance misuse; issues which may be specific to a local area or population, for example gang activity and youth violence and other particular issues affecting children including domestic violence, sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation, extremist behaviour and radicalisation, forced marriage and modern slavery.

 

Everyone associated with the parish council should maintain an attitude of ‘it can happen here’ and are aware of the signs and indicators of abuse.

 

Everyone has a responsibility to provide a safe environment for children, young people and adults at risk.

 

Our recruitment and induction processes include information on safeguarding arrangements, behaviour expectations, the Code of Conduct and the identity and role of the Safeguarding Lead

Everyone is given access to appropriate safeguarding training, which is regularly updated, in order to help recognise the signs and indicators of abuse and understand the Council’s safeguarding procedures.

 

Everyone knows how to respond to someone who discloses abuse, or for whom they have a concern, and the procedure to be followed in appropriately sharing a concern of possible abuse or a disclosure of abuse.

 

All residents are made aware of our organisation’s responsibilities with regard to safeguarding through publication of the safeguarding policy.

 

When services are delivered by a third party or agency, we will ensure that appropriate safeguarding checks are in place and that the person delivering the service is the same person who has been checked. We will seek to ensure the suitability of adults working with and in the presence of children at any time. Community users organising activities for children, young people and vulnerable adults are aware of and understand the need for compliance with the Council’s safeguarding procedures.

 

The Council operates safer recruitment practices including making sure that:

  • statutory duties to carry out required checks on staff who work with children are complied with, in line with Disclosure and Barring Service requirements, current safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance
  • statutory guidance relating to volunteers is followed
  • recruitment panel members are properly trained.

If we dismiss or remove someone because they have harmed a child, or poses a risk of harm to a child or would have done so if they had not left, we will report this to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and any appropriate professional or regulatory body.

 

Our safeguarding policy and procedures will be reviewed every three years, or sooner if required by changes in legislation or guidance.

 

If a child, young person or adult makes an allegation or disclosure of abuse against an adult or other child or young person, we will:

  • stay calm and listen carefully;
  • reassure the person that s/he has done the right thing in telling you;
  • not investigate or ask leading questions;
  • explain that the concern will need to be passed to the Safeguarding Lead;
  • not promise to keep what they have been told a secret;
  • inform the Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible; and
  • make a written record of the allegation, disclosure or incident which will be signed, and dated.

 

Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Information sharing is vital to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. A key factor identified in many serious case reviews (SCRs) has been a failure by practitioners to record information, to share it to understand its significance and then take appropriate action.

  • we recognise that all matters relating to protection are confidential;
  • we will disclose personal information about a child, young person or adult on a need-to-know basis only;
  • everyone understands that they have a responsibility to share information with other agencies where necessary to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk;
  • everyone understands that they cannot promise to keep secrets which might compromise the safety or well-being of a child, young person or adult at risk, or that of another person; and
  • we will share concerns with the Multi-Agency Referral Unit unless doing so could place someone at greater risk of harm or compromise a criminal investigation. If in doubt, we will consult the MARU.

 

Managing Allegations against individuals who work for us 

We are aware of the possibility of allegations being made against someone who works for or volunteers with the Council that are working with or may come into contact with children, young person or adults at risk. They can be made by children, young person or adults or other concerned adults.

 

Everyone in our organisation and volunteers has been made aware of the process to be followed if such an allegation is made.

In such circumstances we will:

  • Report the matter to the MARU;
  • consider the safeguarding arrangements of the child, young person or adult to ensure they are not in contact with the alleged abuser;
  • consider the rights of the individual concerned for a fair and equal process of investigation;
  • ensure that the appropriate disciplinary procedure is followed, including whether suspending that person from work or volunteering for us until the outcome of any investigation is deemed necessary;
  • advise the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and any other appropriate regulatory or professional body where the individual has been disciplined or dismissed as a result of the allegations founded or would have been if they have resigned.

 

Whistleblowing 

We recognise that children, young people and adults at risk should not be expected to raise concerns in an environment where concerns are not addressed properly.  Everyone is advised of our Whistleblowing Policy and of how it can be implemented. Everyone is aware of their duty to raise concerns about the attitude and actions of colleagues where these are inappropriate or unsuitable. If necessary, concerns will be raised with the delegated ‘Whistleblowing’ representative – the Clerk.

 

Supporting Staff and volunteers 

Everyone will be advised of the boundaries of appropriate behaviour as part of staff and volunteer induction and will have access to support and guidance when required.

We recognise that staff and volunteers working in our organisation who have become involved in the case of a child who has suffered harm, or appears likely to suffer harm, may find the situation stressful and upsetting.

 

We support this by providing an opportunity for them to discuss their anxieties with the Safeguarding Lead, or another person and/or a trade union representative as appropriate.

 

Our Safeguarding Lead and / or anyone working for the organisation has access to support and appropriate workshops, courses or meetings as organised or recommended by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Our Safeguarding Children Partnership, Safeguarding Adults Board, Safeguarding Standards Unit (SSU) or Local Authority (LA).

 

Prevention

We recognise that we can play a significant part in preventing harm to children, young people and adults at risk by providing effective lines of communication with trusted adults, supportive peers and a protective ethos. The Council will support children, young person or adult by:

  • Establishing and maintaining an ethos, understood by everyone, which enables children, young people or adults to feel secure and encourages them to talk, knowing that they will be listened to.
  • Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment ensuring that all children, young people or adults know that there is someone in our organisation whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty.
  • Liaising and working together with all other support services and those agencies involved in the safeguarding of children and adults.
  • Recognising that children, young people or adults come from a variety of different cultural backgrounds, we have developed policies to ensure that we embrace diversity in religion and faith, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.
  • We will include our Safeguarding Policy in our governance documents/website and will post copies of our policy throughout the organisation.

 

Training 

Everyone has been provided with and agreed that they have read and understood our Safeguarding Policy.

 

Everyone will have access to appropriate safeguarding training which is regularly updated in order to keep it updated in line with local and national guidance/legislation. As part of induction, we will issue information about this Safeguarding Policy and any other safeguarding-related policies and procedures to all newly appointed individuals.

 

Adopted at the Full Council Meeting held on Wednesday 12 August 2026 under minute reference FPC142/26. Due for review in August 2029.