Safeguarding

Safeguarding Adults means that local authorities, Police and NHS agencies involved with adults who might be at risk of abuse have a duty of care to ensure procedures are in place to encourage identification of suspected abuse and action to stop the abuse. 

For further guidance please click to view the County Councillors guide to Adult Safeguarding (lancscc.net) 

Children’s safeguarding is a crucial responsibility for a county councillor, focusing on protecting children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Lancashire County Council Children's Services is a progressive and innovative place, embracing strengths-based approaches and the Family Safeguarding model of practice.  We continuously strive for excellence in our services to the families of Lancashire, through internal development and our role as a Sector-Led Improvement Partner and NW Regional Improvement Pilot lead member. 

The Family Safeguarding Model is our model of practice, and we use a strengths based approach across our services working with children, young people and families, to offer the right support at the right time. 

Key Aspects of Children’s Safeguarding:

1. 1. Protection from Harm: Ensuring that children are safe from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect.
   2. Promoting Welfare: Supporting the overall well-being of children, including their health, development, and education.
   3. Early Intervention: Identifying and addressing issues early to prevent harm and provide support to children and families in need.
   4. Multi-Agency Collaboration: Working with various agencies such as health care providers and police to ensure a coordinated approach to safeguarding.
   5. Policy and Legislation: Understanding and implementing relevant laws and policies, such as the Children Act 1989 and 2004, which provide the legal framework for safeguarding children.
   6. Training and Awareness: Ensuring that all staff and volunteers are trained in safeguarding procedures and are aware of how to recognize and report concerns.
   7. Learning from Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPRs) and Rapid Reviews (RR). We work closely with the LSBU to ensure that learning is identified from serious harm or death of a child, this is then utilised to inform practice developments.
   8. Inspections, Local Authority children services are inspected by Ofsted in a range of areas, Joint Area Targeted Inspection (JTAI), SEND and Inspections Local authority Childrens services (ILACS). As a councillor you will play a lead role in engaging in inspection and following action plans set by Inspections.

As a county councillor, you play a vital role in overseeing these efforts, ensuring that local services are effective and that children in your community are protected and supported. If you have any specific questions or need more detailed information, email significanteventnotification@lancashire.gov.uk and a senior manager will be in touch.

If you are worried about a child or adult being neglected or abused.  If there is immediate danger always contact the Police first on 999.  Where possible, the person who has the concern should make the call to Children’s Services.

Safeguarding for children and adults:

8.00am to 8.00pm     0300 123 6720

8.00pm to 8.00am     0300 123 6722