Safeguarding policy

Information about the Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding, in its broadest sense, is defined as ‘To protect from harm’. Thanet District Council has a number of duties to safeguard children, vulnerable adults which also extends to domestic abuse, exploitation, radicalisation, forced marriage, trafficking and modern slavery.

The council works with Kent County Council, primarily, as well as other agencies, to ensure safeguarding is embedded within all service areas throughout the council.

This Policy aims to ensure the council and all employees, Elected Members, volunteers and contracted and grant funded organisations comply with the councils Safeguarding Policy and consider the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults whilst undertaking all services and functions.

If there is an immediate risk of safeguarding or someone is in immediate danger, dial 999.

External organisations, contractors and volunteers providing services to, or on behalf of, Thanet District Council, are also required to comply with this policy and ensure any discrepancies or concerns are reported to the designated safeguarding officers within the council.

For more information, contact the Community Safety Safeguarding Officer by calling 01843 577910 or emailing community.safety@thanet.gov.uk

Safeguarding functions

In Kent, safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults is a multi-agency responsibility. As Kent operates a two, and in some places three tier council system, Thanet District Council liaises with Kent County Council and the respective Parish and Town Councils within the District, alongside other partner agencies and bodies that have responsibility for undertaking safeguarding functions or supporting the agencies that do. Key functions are set out below.

Kent County Council

Kent County Council (KCC) is the responsible authority for children and adult social services. Designated officers from Thanet District Council, liaise with and report safeguarding concerns, incidents or allegations to KCC children or adult social services. This is then assessed by the duty officer and further actions taken and co-ordinated as deemed appropriate by KCC.

Kent Safeguarding Boards

Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership is a statutory multi-agency partnership which brings together agencies who work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. The objective of the SCB is to co-ordinate the activity of each person and agency represented for the purposes of safeguarding.

More information is available on the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi Agency Partnership website.

The Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) is a statutory multi-agency partnership which brings together agencies who work to safeguarding vulnerable adults in Kent and Medway.

More information is available on the KCC website:

• Kent-and-Medway-Safeguarding-Adults-Board-responsibilities (kent.gov.uk)

Designated officers from Thanet District Council sit on both Safeguarding boards.

• Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Boards

Support for Carers

• Support for Carers (kmsab.org.uk)
• Caring for other people (kent.gov.uk)

Kent Police

Have duties to investigate criminal offences and refer any suspicion, allegation or disclosure that a child or vulnerable adult may be suffering harm, to Kent County Council.

Thanet District Council

It is the responsibility of all employees and members, to acknowledge the internal safeguarding policy and participate in training and reporting any concerns, incidents or allegations to the Community Safety Team who will then liaise with other agencies and if needed make a direct referrals.

Parish and Town councils

It is anticipated that Town and Parish councils will comply with the District Councils Safeguarding Policy unless an alternative Policy is presented and agreed by the District Councils Designated Safeguarding Leads.

In addition to responsibilities for safeguarding, all employees and Elected Members also work within any related ‘Safe working practice’ guidelines.