Safeguarding children and adults at risk of harm - 8. Roles and responsibilities

8.1  Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility. Therefore, responsibility for the implementation of this policy lies at all levels of the council.

8.2  All staff are responsible for acting upon any safeguarding concerns they have and to report them in line with the policy and procedures contained in this document. Even when concerns do not in isolation confirm abuse they should still be reported as, when considered with other concerns, they may provide indicators of a child or adult at risk.

8.3  The senior safeguarding officer is the Executive Director of Communities and Housing and has overall responsibility for:

• ensuring that safeguarding allegations are investigated and addressed.
• co-ordinating the council’s input into serious case reviews and domestic homicide reviews when appropriate
• ensuring the council’s safeguarding group promotes safeguarding throughout the council and develops processes and policies to ensure statutory duties are met.
• Resolving any inter-agency issues and liaison with the relevant boards in relation to safeguarding.

8.4  Safeguarding champions represent specified service areas at the council’s safeguarding group. It is their role to: 

• act as a point of contact for guidance in relation to safeguarding issues and concerns that staff come across.
• promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults across the council.
• ensure all required reporting and referral processes are followed by staff in their service area.
• attend relevant safeguarding training courses to keep up to date on legislative and best practice process developments in relation to safeguarding – this includes face to face safeguarding champion training.
• provide strategic oversight for all aspects of safeguarding work across the council via the internal safeguarding group meetings. 

8.5  Human Resources and Organisational Development are responsible for:

• Providing training for staff and councillors appropriate to their safeguarding responsibilities.
• Ensuring Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are in place for staff who require them.

8.6  Contractors and partner organisations delivering service on behalf of the council have a duty to report safeguarding concerns. This forms part of the contracts or service level agreements empowering those organisations to undertake work on the council’s behalf.

8.7  Councillors should familiarise themselves with this policy and report any safeguarding concerns in line with this document.