Safeguarding Policy Sept 2025

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Safeguarding Policy &
Procedures
Approved By the Town Council 8th September 2025
This document sets out the Town Council’s Safeguarding policy and procedures; it
applies to staff, councillors, volunteers and people / organisations contracted by the
Town Council to provide services e.g. youth work provision

August 2025

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Policy Statement
North Petherton Town Council is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all
everyone using council services, participating in council run or supported activities
and visiting council provided facilities. It recognises its responsibility to take all
reasonable steps to create and maintain safe environments, promote safe working
practice and to protect vulnerable adults, children and young people from harm,
abuse and exploitation.
Paid staff and volunteers will endeavour to work together to provide a safe and
welcoming environment to encourage the development of an ethos which embraces
difference and diversity and respects the rights of children, young people, and adults
Introduction
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility - staff, volunteers and Councillors. Everyone
should be aware of their responsibilities in relation to the protection of children, young
people and adults at risk.
Note: The Children’s Act 1989 defines a child as a person under the age of 18 years.
Policy Principles
• North Petherton Town Council is committed to providing safe
environments for all
• The welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults is
paramount
• All children and vulnerable adults have a right to protection from abuse
• Town Council staff, volunteers and Councillors have a responsibility to
support the care and protection of children and vulnerable adults.
North Petherton Town Council will
• Ensure that all Town Council facilities, events and services support, promote and
facilitate a safe experience for all who use them
• Ensure that all individuals who come into contact with the Town Council are
treated with dignity, respect and safeguarded form harm
• Ensure that all workers, volunteers and councillors understand their legal and
moral obligations to protect children and young people from harm, abuse and
exploitation;
• Develop best practice in relation to the recruitment of all workers, councillors
and volunteers including DBS checks, and rechecks every three years
Note: There is no defined expiry date for DBS checks and organisations are free to
establish when additional requests to the DBS are made.
• Ensure that all workers, volunteers and councillors understand their
responsibility to work to the standards and procedures detailed in the
organisation’s Code of Conduct, Code of Good Practice and the Child
Protection Procedures
• Ensure that all workers, volunteers and councillors understand their obligations
to report care or protection concerns about a child/young person, or a worker’s
conduct towards a child/young person, to the organisation’s designated person
for child protection (the Town Clerk);
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• Library volunteers will complete the basic safeguarding training available on-line
through Somerset Council
• Ensure that all procedures relating to the conduct of workers are implemented
in a consistent and equitable manner;
• Ensure that the designated person is appropriately trained and understands
his/her responsibility to refer any child protection concerns to the statutory child
protection agencies (i.e. Police, Multi Agency Support Hub (MASH) and/or
Somerset Council Social Services);
• Provide opportunities for all workers, volunteers and councillors to develop their
skills and knowledge particularly in relation to the care and protection of children
and young people annually;
• Ensure that children and young people are enabled to express their ideas and
views on a wide range of issues and will have access to the organisation’s
Complaints Procedure;
• Ensure that parents/carers are encouraged to be involved in the work of the
organisation and, when requested, have access to all guidelines and
procedures;
• Endeavour to keep up-to-date with national developments relating to the care
and protection of children and young people
• Take appropriate action to investigate any concerns or allegations of abuse and
to support individuals who may be afected
Integration into everyday Work
When an activity is at the planning stage consideration of safeguarding
responsibilities should be an integral part of the process and potential safeguarding
issues and relevant mitigations identified
Reporting Process
Any incident or situation which give a member of staff, a volunteer or a councillor
should be reported as soon as possible to the Town Clerk
Responding to a child or vulnerable adult who says either they or another child
or vulnerable adult is/are being abused and responding to allegations against an
employee/volunteer/Member or another young person:
If a person discloses to you abuse by someone else:
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Do create a safe environment by offering the child, young person, or
vulnerable adult a private and safe place if possible.
Do stay calm and reassure the child, young person, or vulnerable adult and
stress that he/she is not to blame.
Allow the person to speak without interruption, accepting what is said,
Do tell the person that you know how difficult it must have been to confide in
you and that they have done the right thing in talking to you.
Do listen carefully and tell the child, young person, or vulnerable adult, what
you are going to do next.
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Do tell only the DSL without delay, using the child’s own words where possible
but DO NOT investigate.
Advise that you will try to offer support, but that you MUST pass the
information on.
Record the facts as you know them.
DO NOT take photographs of any injuries.
DO NOT postpone or delay the opportunity for the person to talk.
DO NOT take notes while the person is speaking or ask the person to write an
account.
DO NOT ask leading questions
DO NOT try to investigate the allegation yourself.
DO NOT promise confidentiality e.g. to say you will keep ‘the secret’
DO NOT approach or inform the alleged abuser
DO Refer the allegation immediately to the Town Clerk. If the Town Clerk is
implicated, refer to the Mayor. All allegations must be referred, no matter how
insignificant they seem to be, or when they occur.
Try to ensure that no-one is placed in a position which could cause further
compromise.

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Action to be taken by the person receiving the referral as soon as possible, in any
event within 24 hours:
• Write down notes, dates, times, facts, observations, verbatim speech, if possible, as
soon as possible after the incident or disclosure has occurred.
• Ensure correct details are available: young person’s/vulnerable adult’s name and
address, and the name and address of their parent or guardian.
• Immediately contact the Somerset Childrens Advice & Duty Service. Ask for the
name of the person you are speaking with. Do not filter out or withhold any
information. Ask if there is anyone else who should be informed.
• Prepare a confidential file. Record all notes, conversations and advice from the
Childrens Advice & Duty Service. Every effort should be made to ensure that
confidentiality is maintained for all concerned.

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Responding to concerns about a child’s welfare where there has been no
specific disclosure or allegation:
All employees, volunteers and Councillors are encouraged to share concerns with the
Town Clerk. The Town Clerk will, if appropriate, make the necessary referral.
Recognising abuse is not always easy. The list below provides some indicators of
abuse, however, the list is not exhaustive and contains only indicators, not
confirmation, of abuse:
(a) Having unexplained or suspicious injuries, e.g. bites or bruising.
(b) Having an injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent or which has not
been treated adequately.
(c) Change in behaviour, including becoming withdrawn, or becoming aggressive.
(d) Displaying inappropriate sexual awareness for their age.
(e) Refusal to remove clothing for normal activities, e.g. swimming.
(f) Looking neglected in appearance.
(g) Losing or putting on weight for no apparent reason.
(h) Lack of trust in adults.
Allegations against staff, volunteers and Councillors
• All staff, volunteers and Councillors should take care not to place themselves
in a situation where they could be vulnerable to an allegation of inappropriate
behaviour or abuse. It is advisable that work with individual children, young
people or vulnerable adults should always be conducted in view of at least one
other adult.
• If an allegation is made against a member of staff or a volunteer, the person
receiving the allegation must immediately inform the Town Clerk (as the DSL)
• If an allegation is made against a Councillor, the person receiving the
allegation must immediately inform the Monitoring Officer at Somerset Council
and the Town Clerk.
Confidentiality
Every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality and guard against publicity whilst
an allegation is being investigated or considered.
Behaviour of staff, volunteers and councillors
These guidelines have been devised to protect children and vulnerable adults from
abuse, as well as to protect staff, volunteers and Councillors from situations where
false allegations may occur.
The guidelines apply to everyone working with vulnerable persons or children
involved in activities organised by or on behalf of North Petherton Town Council or at
services provided by North Petherton Town Council.

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You must:
• Treat everyone with respect, regardless of their age, ethnicity, social background,
ability, sexual orientation, culture or religious beliefs.
• Provide an example of good conduct you wish others to follow.
• Plan activities which involve more than one other person being present, or at least
which are within sight or hearing of others.
• Respect a person’s right to personal privacy.
• Provide access for young people to talk to others about any concerns they may
have.
• Encourage young people and adults to feel comfortable and caring enough to point
out attitudes or behaviours they do not like.
• Remember that someone else might misinterpret your actions, no matter how well
intentioned.
• Recognise that special caution is required when you are discussing sensitive issues,
such as bullying, bereavement, abuse or personal development.
• Recognise that some children or vulnerable adults will be more vulnerable to abuse
than others, and may face extra barriers in getting help because of their race,
gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, social background or culture.
• Challenge unacceptable behaviour and report all allegations/suspicions of abuse.
• Be identifiable and wear a name badge (if issued) at all times.
You must not:
• Engage in physical horseplay, such as wrestling or tickling.
• Have any inappropriate verbal or physical contact with children or vulnerable
people, or make suggestive remarks or gestures.
• Permit abusive youth peer activities (e.g. initiation ceremonies, ridiculing,
bullying, etc.)
• Play physical contact games with children or vulnerable adults.
• Jump to conclusions about others without checking the facts.
• Ask children or vulnerable adults to do things that are potentially dangerous,
illegal or otherwise unreasonable.
• Exaggerate or trivialise abuse issues.
• Show favouritism to any individual.
• Rely on just your good name to protect you.
• Believe it could “never happen to me”.
• Take chances when common sense, policy or practice suggest a more
prudent approach.
• Allow allegations made to go unchallenged, unrecorded and not acted upon.

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Role of the Town Clerk with regard to Safeguarding
The Town Clerk will take the lead in all safeguarding matters pertaining to the Town
Council and in doing so takes on the role and responsibilities that would usually be
commensurate with the role and responsibilities of a Designated Safeguarding Lead
(DSL)
All safeguarding concerns should be reported to the Town Clerk who is then
responsible for assessing the situation, making the relevant records and taking
appropriate action.
The Town Clerk is responsible for:
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Ensuring that all staff and volunteers are aware of their responsibilities and
obligations to safeguard individuals.
Providing advice, guidance, and support to staff and volunteers on
safeguarding matters.
Ensuring that the council's policies and procedures relating to safeguarding
are up to date and are being implemented effectively.
Ensuring that concerns or allegations of abuse are reported and responded to
appropriately.
Liaising with external agencies, including the local authority and police, as
required.

The Town Clerk will undertake safeguarding training to at least Level 2 and ideally to
Level 3; the training to be refreshed every 3 years. all safeguarding training will be
paid for by the Town Council.
The Town Clerk for North Petherton Town Council will be the principal point of
contact for safeguarding matters, unless the role is placed with the remit of another
Town Council Officer and that is agreed by the Full Council.

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Useful Contacts, Links And Information
This list is principally for the use of the Town Clerk and should only be used by other
persons if the Town Clerk cannot be contacted.
Organisation
North Petherton Town
Council

Avon & Somerset
Constabulary

Contact Details
Tel: 01278 574 074 or email
Joy.norris@northpethertontowncouncil.gov.uk

Notes
Principal contact
for safeguarding
matters
Councillor Linda Hyde Tel: 07717 463139
Mayor
https://www.avonanDSLmerset.police.uk/report/child- preferred
abuse/
method of
Police Central Referral Unit: 0845 605 116.
reporting is in
person at a local
police station
999

Police Prevent Team
Tel:- 01278 647466
PreventSW@avonanDSLmerset.police.uk
Operation Topaz (Avon and Somerset Police)
https://www.avonanDSLmerset.police.uk/forms/vul

Child Exploitation
and Online
Protection command

https://www.ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting/

Somerset Council
Prevent Lead

Local Authority Prevent Lead
prevent@somerset.gov.uk

Somerset Direct

Tel: 0300 123 2224

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Where a child or
vulnerable adult
is at
IMMEDIATE risk
To raise
concerns and
ask for advice
about
radicalisation
Child sexual
exploitation &
child criminal
exploitation
Reporting online
sexual abuse
and grooming

To raise
concerns and
ask for advice
about
radicalisation
To make an
URGENT
referral e.g.
child is likely to
suffer or is
suffering
significant harm,
cases of
domestic abuse

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Organisation

Somerset Council
Somerset Council
Emergency Duty Team
DSL Consultation Line
Inclusion Advice Line

Contact Details

Notes
or if a person is
seeking help
because they
are homeless:
open 8am-6pm
on a Monday
and 8.305.30pm Tuesday
to Friday.

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/care-and-support-foradults/report-an-adult-at-risk/
0300 123 23 27.

To report an
adult at risk
Outside office
hours only

0300 123 3078
0300 123 2224
Inclusion Advice Line

For advice and
support in
relation to
attendance,
SEND, Children
Looked After:

Critical Incident
Support
Local Authority
Designated Officer (LADO)

EPS 01823 357000

Care Quality
Commission

03000 616161 enquiries@cqc.org.uk

Child Exploitation and
Online Protection
Agency

Allegations Management - Somerset Safeguarding
Children Partnership

https://www.ceopeducation.co.uk/ and
www.thinkuknow.co.uk

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To raise
concerns and
ask for guidance
in relation to the
conduct of
someone who
works with
children
only to be used
if contact cannot
be made with
Somerset
Council social
services

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Organisation
NSPCC

Contact Details
0808 800 5000
0800 1111

NSPCC FGM Helpline

0800 028 3550 fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk

Somerset NHS
Foundation Trust
Mental Health Services

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/mental-health/
01823 333444 (Musgrove Park Hospital) or 01935
475122 or 01935 606060 (Yeovil Hospital)

Notes
help for adults
concerned
about a child
help for children
and young
people
FGM Advice

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/help-in-acrisis/mental-health-crisis8/
Forced Marriage Unit

Forced Marriage Unit
020 7008 0151 fmu@fco.gov.uk

Professional Online
Safeguarding
Helpline

T: 0344 381 4772
E: helpline@saferinternet.org.uk

Domestic Abuse
Helpline
Young Carers –
advice and support.

0808 2000 247
0300 123 2224
YoungCarersmailbox@somerset.gov.uk
Somerset Harmful Sexual Behaviour Protocol Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership

Persons,
including
children,
affected by
Forced Marriage
Online safety
advice

Advice around
harmful
sexualised
behaviour.

Further guidance is available on the web - please see HM Government – What to
do if you’re worried that a child is being abused.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/2
81231/DFES-04319-2006-ChildAbuse_Summary.pdf

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Definitions

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A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 years. The fact that a
child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is in further
education, is a member of the armed forces, is in hospital or in custody in the
secure estate, does not change his/her status or entitlements to services or
protection.
A vulnerable adult is someone who by reason of mental or other disability, age,
or illness is unable to take care of themselves or unable to protect themselves
against significant harm or exploitation. An adult for the purpose of this policy is
anyone over 18 years of age.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults as defined for
the purposes of this policy: - protecting children and adults from maltreatment,
or harm - preventing impairment of children’s and adult’s health or development ensuring that children and adults are participating in experiences, using services,
or facilities consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and provision taking action to enable all children and adults to have the best life chances, or
user experience.
Abuse: A form of maltreatment of a child or adult. Somebody may abuse or
neglect a child or adult by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm.
Children or adults may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community
setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others (e.g. via the internet).
They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children. Abuse can
also be mistreatment that violates a person’s human and civil rights
Physical abuse – including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of
medication, restraint, inappropriate physical sanctions
Domestic abuse– psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse, so
called ‘honour’ based violence
Sexual abuse – rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate
looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to
pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure, sexual assault, sexual
acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting
Psychological abuse – including emotional abuse, threats of harm or
abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling,
intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation,
unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks
Financial or material abuse – including theft, fraud, internal scamming, coercion
in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection
with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions; the misuse or
misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits
Modern slavery – including slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and
domestic servitude, traffickers and slave masters using whatever means they have
at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse,
servitude and inhumane treatment

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Discriminatory abuse – including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment
(because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation,
religion)
Organisational abuse – including neglect and poor care practice within an
institution or specific care setting, such as a hospital or care home. This may
range from one-off incidents to ongoing ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or
poor professional practices as a result of the structure, policies, processes and
practices within an organisation
Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical, emotional or physical
care needs; failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or
educational services; the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication,
adequate nutrition and heating
Self-neglect – covering a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s
personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as
hoarding. A decision on whether a safeguarding response is required will depend
on the adult’s ability to protect themselves by controlling their own behaviour.

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