Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons Policy
All Members and staff of Tathwell and Haugham Parish Council, have a duty to safeguard vulnerable members of the parish and those who may meet vulnerable users.
This policy is in place to protect all vulnerable persons regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion or faith.
Principles
The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount and is the responsibility of everyone. All children and vulnerable adults, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse, whether physical, verbal, sexual, bullying, exclusion or neglect. Bullying, shouting, physical violence, sexism and racism towards children and vulnerable adults will not be permitted or tolerated.
Policy Statement
1. No member of the Council, its employees or other volunteers will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults unless they have been through the safe recruitment procedure and introductory Child Protection or Vulnerable Adults Protection training.
2. All suspicions or allegations of abuse against a child will be taken seriously and referred to the appropriate agency by the clerk, in conjunction with the Chairman.
3. All members and staff need to be aware of this policy, child protection, and vulnerable adult issues. A copy of the appendices will be provided to all who request it.
4. The Council will endeavour to keep Council owned premises safe for use by children and vulnerable adults. The Council recognises that a higher standard of safety is required where use is made by small children, those who cannot read safety notices and physically disabled adults.
5. Safe recruitment processes should be used to appoint staff who will be working with children or vulnerable adults in any kind of activity.
6. These policies and procedures will be reviewed annually and updated as appropriate in the interim periods.
Each employee and Council Member will adopt and take responsibility for the implementation of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons Policy.
This policy will be reviewed and amended as required by the Parish Council on an annual basis.
This Policy was reviewed and approved at the Parish Council Meeting held 7th May 2024 Minute Reference 24/05-7 a)ix.