Agenda item

The Panel is invited to consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Personnel Services Manager introduced a report which outlined changes to the corporate Child Protection Policy.  The report explained that the policy had been in place since 2007 and had been revised to reflect current practice and developments which had evolved during the intervening period.  The Policy was designed to ensure the Council met its responsibilities and safeguarded children and young people from potential harm and abuse, as well as protecting itself, its staff and elected members.

The Personnel Services Manager outlined the key changes within the revision as follows:

·        Updates to reflect changes as a result of the new arrangements in leisure and arts;

·        More prominent display of information relating to the Council’s child protection co-ordinator, and deputy.

·        A new section outlining the Council’s corporate responsibilities (section 1.3 of the policy) and service specific responsibilities (section 1.4 of the policy).

·        An updated diagram to summarise the basic response procedure if an employee or Elected Member needs to raise a concern (section 6.2 of the policy);

·        General updating of the section relating to recruitment and retention of staff (section 8 of the policy) to reflect changes in practice and to reflect the requirements of the Disclosure and Barring Service (including updating appendices F and G).

It was reported that once adopted, the revised policy would be communicated to staff.  An on-going programme of child protection training was already in place, and this would be revised to include refresher training on a three yearly basis, in accordance with recommended best practice.  The refresher training would include a session specifically covering the Council’s Child Protection Policy.

Councillor Devereux stated that it was a comprehensive policy and the failure to prevent abuse did put a big responsibility on elected members.  He referred to Appendix G on page 42 of the agenda - Policy Statement on the Secure Storage, Handling, Use, Retention and Disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure Information, and stated that there appeared to be a mismatch between the heading and content.

The Personnel Services Manager explained that it was a template provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service.  The Chief Executive added that it could be supplemented with further clarification but could not be replaced.

The Chairman referred to the summary on page 6, where reference had been made to the policy protecting the authority and elected members and suggested that this should also include volunteers and contractors.  He also stated that the policy referred to how staff could report concerns but not elected members.

In response, the Personnel Services Manager explained that the procedure applied to staff, elected members and volunteers.

The Chairman made reference to two typographical errors within the report:

1.4 – page 16 should read ‘where there are no specific processes in place …’

1.2 – page 15 should read ‘ensuring where appropriate, contractors and funded organisations have child protection policies and procedures in place.’

In accordance with Standing Order 34, Councillor Chenery referred to dietary needs and asked if this could also be taken into account.

In response, the Personnel Services Manager explained that dietary needs would come under the category of neglect and staff had been trained in dealing with this type of issue.

The Panel supported the recommendation to Cabinet as set out below:

1.         That Members approved the revised Child Protection Policy.

2.         That Members delegate authority to the Executive Director, Central and Community Services, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to agree amendments/updates to the Policy that may be required to ensure it remained compliant with legislation.

3.         That Officers take steps to ensure that the Council’s duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children is appropriate reflected in contracts, leases and licences.