Issue - meetings

Decision

That the following policies be agreed:

1.   Children, Young People & Adult at risk Safeguarding Policy and Procedures with amendments agreed by Cabinet.

2.    Domestic Abuse Policy

Corporate objectives

Building strong and vibrant communities

Monitoring Officer/S.151 Officer Comments

Monitoring Officer

The updated policies will help to ensure that the Council complies with the latest statutory framework, guidance and best practice.

Deputy S.151 Officer

There are no direct financial impact of the implementation of these policies.

Advice

Councillor Harden introduced the report which contained the reviewed policies relating to safeguarding and domestic abuse to ensure they are up to date with legislation.

J Chapman added that it was about making safeguarding personal and there was the ability to include feedback from the adult safeguarding audit.

Councillor Tindall asked if this new policy took into account the government’s draft legislation on domestic abuse from January.

J Chapman said it had been taken into account but not included because the legislation is not due to pass for another six to nine months so it will be incorporated then and amended when necessary.

Councillor Tindall asked that Cabinet reconsider the wording in the domestic abuse policy at paragraph 1.1 and suggested the removal of the words ‘where it occurs’ to make the statement stronger.

Councillor Griffiths asked if there were any plans to provide safeguarding training to all members.

J Chapman thought it was fair to say that there is an opportunity to improve on member attendance for safeguarding training. The take up previously has not been as high as necessary. He believed there were plans to include this training in the Member Development programme for 2019/20.

Councillor Griffiths asked how often members and staff should be trained.

J Chapman said every three years would be appropriate.

S Marshall confirmed that safeguarding training would be mandatory for all councillors in 2019/20.

Councillor Harden sought clarification that J Chapman was the designated officer for the entire council.

J Chapman said he was the lead officer. The policy highlights a number of officers designated as safeguarding officers who tend to be Group Managers and Team Leaders. They are the first port of call. It is important to remember that safeguarding is the role of everybody and not down to one person.

Councillor G Sutton said the report was very thorough and passed his congratulations to the team.

Councillor Tindall agreed that this was a big improvement and congratulated J Chapman. He pointed out one same error – paragraph 2.2 had been repeated.

The recommendations were agreed with the minor changes suggested by Councillor Tindall.

Voting

None.