Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Housing & Health. In March 2024, a Consumer Regulation Health check advised that MDH establish a dedicated Safeguarding Policy to better manage risks associated with protecting vulnerable adults and children from abuse and neglect. Safeguarding is a crucial legal obligation for MDH. Whilst the existing corporate policy was widely updated in 2024 as an initial policy priority, it lacks detail on the role of MDH as a landlord as required by housing providers. This new MDH specific policy has been developed in the context of the updated corporate policy for consistency.

The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Housing & Health. In March 2024, a Consumer Regulation Health check advised that Mid Devon Housing (MDH) established a dedicated Safeguarding Policy to better manage risks associated with protecting vulnerable adults and children from abuse and neglect. Safeguarding was a crucial legal obligation for MDH. Whilst the existing corporate policy was widely updated in 2024 as an initial policy priority, it lacked detail on the role of MDH as a landlord as required by housing providers. This new MDH specific policy had been developed in the context of the updated corporate policy for consistency.

The following was highlighted within the report:

·         This was separate to the corporate Safeguarding policy as the role of Mid Devon Housing was slightly different to the rest of the Council.

·         Housing officers were trained to proactively look out for the well-being of tenants.

·         The policy identified adults and children as two distinct groups.

·         The policy set out the Council’s responsibilities in detail.

·         The policy would help to guide officers and the Housing teams.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The demand for access to other health and social care services had increased dramatically. There were significant challenges around the capacity of the systems needed to help, for example, the NHS.

·         The Neighbourhood Teams were praised for the work that they did.

·         The complexities involved in trying to work with multiple agencies.

·         The importance of all relevant information being made available to all agencies.

·         There were challenges around ‘consent’.

·         The Council’s ethos was ‘why shouldn’t we share?’ rather than ‘why share?’

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that it recommends to full Council the adoption of the MDH Safeguarding Adults at Risk, Children and Young People Policy and Equality Impact Assessment contained in Annexes A and B respectively.

(Proposed by Cllr A Glover and seconded by Cllr H Tuffin)

Note: * Report previously circulated