Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults Policy Additional Considerations and Mitigation

S75 Equality And Good Relations Screening Form

Additional Considerations

Generally speaking people can fall into more than one Section 75 category.  Taking this into consideration, are there any potential impacts of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance on people with multiple identities?  (For example:  disabled minority ethnic people, disabled women, young Protestant men, young lesbians, gay and bisexual people.)

The policies take cognizance of the fact that those at risk will have multiple identities.
 

Provide details of data on the impact of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance on people with multiple identities.  Specify the relevant Section 75 categories concerned.

A victim of abuse, neglect or exploitation may for example be a mother, a carer, have a disability or be from a different racial background. The policies seek to ensure that responses to allegations or disclosures of abuse meet the needs of each individual and that the various parts of their identities are recognised and respected.

Disability Considerations

Is there an opportunity to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

No.

Is there an opportunity to encourage participation by disabled people in public life by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

No.

Screening Decision

Likely Impact  None.

If the decision is to subject the policy to an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact – Major), please provide details of the reasons for this:

N/A.

If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact = Minor) the Council should consider if the policy should be mitigated or an alternative policy be introduced: 
N/A.

If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact = None), please provide details of the reasons for this:
The review and update of the policies and procedures are to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk from all forms of abuse, neglect or exploitation. The equality impact is positive and intentional for children, young people, older people, people with a disability and people from different racial backgrounds.

Mitigation

When the Council concludes that the likely impact is ‘Minor’ and an equality impact assessment is not to be conducted, the Council may consider mitigation to lessen the severity of any equality impact, or the introduction of an alternative policy to better promote equality of opportunity or good relations.
Can the policy/decision be amended or changed or an alternative policy introduced to better promote equality of opportunity and/or good relations?

 No.

If YES, give the reasons to support your decision, together with the proposed changes/amendments or alternative policy:

Training and Practice.

• Victims of abuse should have access to the highest quality of support provided by a trained and skilled workforce. The policies seek to ensure that staff supporting those at risk have the necessary skills to assist them keep themselves safe from further harm.
• A training package with 3 identified levels within the organisation will be rolled out:
  • Level 1 Introductory awareness training for all employees, 
  • Level 2 training for operational staff within a Leisure Environment, and 
  • Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Officers Training for Reporting Officers. 
     

Governance, Audit and Quality Assurance

• The policies will establish an open and transparent process which will ensure that services and options for those at risk are maintained at the highest level, fit for purpose and meet the needs of individuals at risk.
   

Communication

• We recognise there are various communication and language needs, and the policies will be available in alternative formats, including easy read, upon request. 
• People need to know how to identify and refer and who can help. Document to include quick reference for ease of use by all staff detailing reporting mechanisms using clear flowcharts.
• Raised awareness of staff to safeguarding issues.
• Clear procedures for reporting concerns. 
• Improved information sharing between agencies. 

Safe recruitment and selection procedures.

• Safe recruitment and selection procedures help to ensure a safe work place by deterring and screening out unsuitable individuals.  Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council will endeavour to always promote the safety of adults and provide a safe environment, by carefully following the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff, agency workers and volunteers and by carrying out the appropriate vetting procedure for staff, agency workers and volunteers.
• Safe environments.

Safeguarding Managers’ / Safeguarding Champion (Adults at Risk) / Designated Safeguarding Officers’.

• Council’s Safeguarding Managers’ will oversee Safeguarding, with the Safeguarding Champion and Designated Safeguarding Officers’ being responsible for promoting good practice and issuing operational guidance to employees/agency workers/volunteers/elected members.
• Guidance will be provided on appropriate and relevant supervision; including the appointment of designated safeguarding officers within each of our business units.

Record keeping

• Confidentiality. 
• Improved record keeping.

Timetabling And Prioritising
If the policy/decision has been ‘screened in’ for equality impact assessment, then please answer the following questions to determine its priority for timetabling the equality impact assessment.
On a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being the lowest priority and 3 the highest, assess the policy in terms of its priority for equality impact assessment.
 

Priority Criterion
Rating (1 to 3)
Effect on equality of opportunity and good relations  N/A.
Social Need  N/A.
Effect on people’s daily lives  N/A.
Relevance to the Council’s functions  N/A.
 

Monitoring
Please outline proposals for future monitoring of the policy/decision:

We are committed to reviewing our policies, procedures, practices and training in line with changes in legislation and best practice or at a minimum every three years.

Approval And Authorisation

Screened By:  Sport & Wellbeing Development Unit Manager                Date:  19.06.23

Approved By: Head of Sport & Wellbeing             Date:  04/08/23