Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendation:

1. That Cabinet approve the updated Corporate Safeguarding Protocol.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the updated Corporate Safeguarding Protocol for approval. The Protocol acted as a framework for the Council to ensure that safeguarding was embedded across all services and that staff, contractors, elected members and volunteers understood their responsibilities and the different forms that abuse can take.

The Council had a duty to make appropriate arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults. The Council believed that every child, young person and adult, regardless of their background, age, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity or religious belief should be able to live and participate in safe society without any fear, violence, abuse, bullying, discrimination or exploration. The Protocol acted as a framework to ensure that safeguarding was embedded across all services. This included staff, contractors, elected members and volunteers being aware of their roles and responsibilities for safeguarding and ensuring that support was in place to develop and maintain this understanding in the evolution of safeguarding responsibilities, legislative alignment, and operational improvements.

The Corporate Safeguarding Protocol was last approved by Cabinet in November 2022. The proposed updates were set out in paragraphs 2.3 to 2.6 of the report and included changes to: Section 1 Foreword; Section 4 Legislative Context – Adults and Children’s Types of Abuse and Neglect; Section 5 Safeguarding Children and Young People – Children’s Participation; and Section 6 Adults Safeguarding Board (SAB).

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet approve the updated Corporate Safeguarding Protocol.