Issue - meetings

(A report by Emily Spicer, Assistant Director – Communities and Housing Services)

The Portfolio Holder for Communities, Councillor Helen Staples, presented a report by the Assistant Director – Communities and Housing Services, who was in attendance, which sought approval of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Safeguarding Policy. The report explained that the policy had been developed following the creation of the Partnership and the move to a single workforce, with the aim of providing a consistent and standardised approach to safeguarding children and adults across all three councils.

Members were advised that the policy set out the Partnership’s responsibilities under the Children Act 1989 and the Care Act 2014, and provided clear guidance for Members, officers, contractors and volunteers on identifying, reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns. The report highlighted that the policy emphasised a person?centred approach, professional curiosity, clear reporting pathways and effective record keeping, ensuring that safeguarding remained everyone’s responsibility.

The policy also incorporated arrangements for training and awareness, including mandatory safeguarding training delivered through the First4Learning system, supported by face?to?face sessions where appropriate. Members were advised that the policy included provisions for ongoing review, with minor updates to be made as required to reflect changes in legislation or practice, and a full review to be undertaken on a cyclical basis.

Members were further advised that the adoption of a single safeguarding policy would improve clarity, strengthen governance and support effective partnership working with Lincolnshire County Council and other relevant agencies.

The introduction of a single Partnership?wide safeguarding policy was welcomed, and the significant amount of work undertaken was acknowledged by the Portfolio Holder and officers to develop a comprehensive and robust framework across the Partnership. The complexity of aligning safeguarding arrangements across three councils within a single workforce was recognised, and Members noted the importance of the collaborative approach taken to achieve this.

The strong emphasis on early identification of concerns was supported and the clear message that safeguarding issues should be shared and not retained by individuals. The focus on professional curiosity, clear reporting routes and robust record keeping was noted as particularly important in supporting effective safeguarding practice.

The inclusion of mandatory training and ongoing monitoring of completion was welcomed, alongside the recognition of the need to support both staff and Members through supervision, guidance and regular discussion of safeguarding matters. Members noted that the policy provided clarity around roles and responsibilities and would help ensure confidence and consistency in responding to safeguarding concerns.

The discussion highlighted the benefits of a standardised approach in strengthening governance, reducing the risk of inconsistency and ensuring continued compliance with statutory duties. Members also welcomed the provision for regular review, recognising the need for the policy to remain responsive to legislative change and emerging best practice.

Overall, Members agreed that the policy reflected a high standard of work and provided a clear, proportionate and effective framework to support safeguarding across the Partnership.

The recommendation was moved by Councillor Helen Staples and seconded by Councillor Sandeep Ghosh.

Resolved:

1.    That the joint SELCP Safeguarding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48

(A report by Emily Spicer, Assistant Director – Communities & Housing Services)

The Committee received a report and presentation from the Wellbeing Service Manager & Deputy Strategic Safeguarding Officer, on the proposed joint Safeguarding Policy for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP). The policy had been developed to standardise safeguarding practices across the three councils following the formation of a single workforce, and was supported by the documentation circulated with the agenda, including the draft policy and associated guidance (Appendix A – SELCP Safeguarding Policy and Appendix B – Safeguarding Reporting Flowcharts).

The Wellbeing Service Manager & Deputy Strategic Safeguarding Officer explained that the policy aligned with statutory duties under the Children Act 1989 and the Care Act 2014 and supported a consistent approach to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

The policy introduced clearer guidance on:

·       Professional curiosity

·       Reporting pathways

·       Officer responsibilities

Training would be delivered and monitored via the First4Learning system, with tailored modules assigned based on role and face-to-face sessions provided where appropriate. Regular supervision and team meetings would be used to support staff and share good practice.

A single referral process had been established, including:

·       A dedicated email address

·       An electronic referral form

·       Updated reporting flowcharts

The Committee was advised that the policy would be subject to annual light-touch reviews and a full governance review every three years.

The Chairman thanked Wellbeing Service Manager & Deputy Strategic Safeguarding Officer for the presentation and confirmed that the Committee was satisfied with the policy’s scope and structure.

During consideration of the report, Members raised several queries and observations regarding safeguarding practices and inter-agency coordination.

Clarification was sought on the effectiveness of current safeguarding procedures and the escalation process for high-risk cases. Officers confirmed that robust protocols were in place and that multi-agency panels met regularly to review complex cases.

Questions were asked about the volume and nature of referrals received. Officers advised that referral numbers had increased, particularly in relation to mental health and domestic abuse, and that resources were being monitored to ensure continued responsiveness.

Concerns were expressed regarding safeguarding training for frontline staff and volunteers. Officers confirmed that training was mandatory and regularly updated, with additional modules available for specific risk areas.

Further information was requested on safeguarding in schools and the role of designated safeguarding leads. Officers outlined the support provided to educational settings and confirmed ongoing liaison with children’s services.

The importance of community awareness and early intervention was highlighted, and officers agreed to explore further outreach opportunities and report back on engagement outcomes.

The Committee welcomed the report and acknowledged the critical importance of safeguarding work across all sectors. Members expressed appreciation for the proactive approach taken by officers and the strength of partnership arrangements in place.

Resolved:

1.     That the report be noted;

2.     That further data on referral trends and training uptake be provided in future updates; and

3.     That opportunities for enhanced community engagement on safeguarding matters be explored.