Policies

INGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Safeguarding Policy for Vulnerable Adults and Children Policy

Ingham Parish Council member will endeavour to respond to any concerns regarding physical, sexual, emotional or psychological safety of a vulnerable person or concerns relating to discriminatory or financial violation or exploitation of a vulnerable person.  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 another person will not be permitted or tolerated.

Policy Statement

1. No member of Ingham Parish Council will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults unless they have been through the Safe Recruitment Procedure and/ or the introductory Child Protection or Vulnerable Adults Protection training.
2. All suspicions or allegations of abuse against a child or vulnerable adults will be taken seriously and dealt with speedily and appropriately.
3. The Parish Council endeavour to safeguard Parish Council facilities for use by children and vulnerable adults. 
4. The Parish Council will endeavour to monitor the wellbeing of a vulnerable adult that attends a Parish Council meeting.
5. The needs of vulnerable adults and children should be considered in all Parish Council decisions.

This policy is supported by all Parish Council Members and staff. All new Members of the Parish Council and staff will be made aware of it’s existence and reminded they must conform with it at all times.

The policy will be reviewed and amended as required by the Parish Council on an annual basis.