Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

To seek Executive approval to implement a new Safeguarding Policy.

Decision

That the Safeguarding Policy be approved.

Alternative Options

None.

Reason for Decision

Within Lincolnshire there were multi-agency safeguarding partnerships operating but until now there had not been a joint safeguarding policy that all district councils had agreed to work to.

The proposed Safeguarding Policy would ensure that all districts operated in the same way which would ensure consistency across the county and also enable the districts to support on another and assist each other should changes to working practices require amending.

The City Council current had a Safeguarding Policy that was developed for its own use, however, for the past two years there had been several discussions between all of the district councils in Lincolnshire to develop a policy and procedures that all districts could use.

It was proposed that the Safeguarding Policy and associated procedures would be implemented with immediate effect and would be due for review in 2022. The Policy was made up of the following chapters:

·         Chapter 1 – safeguarding is everyone’s business – roles and responsibilities;

·         Chapter 2 – safeguarding children and young people;

·         Chapter 3 – safeguarding adults at risk;

·         Chapter 4 – domestic abuse;

·         Chapter 5 – preventing violent extremism;

·         Chapter 6 – hate crime and mate crime;

·         Chapter 7 – modern slavery and human trafficking;

·         Chapter 8 – county lines and cuckooing;

·         Chapter 9 – stalking.

The Policy Scrutiny Committee had considered this document and outlined its support.