Derry City & Strabane - Safeguarding 
 

  



 
 




















 
 
 
 


    
  • Text Colour:
  • C
  • C
  • C
  • C
  • Text Size: A A A

Safeguarding

What is Safeguarding?

Everyone who uses our services and facilities, or who participates in our activities has a right to do so in an environment free from potential abuse and harm. Safeguarding is a term we use to describe all of the measures we take as an organisation to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of individuals, especially children and adults at risk.

A child is anyone aged under 18 years of age.

An adult at risk is anyone aged 18 years or over who could be at risk of harm due to their personal or environmental circumstances.

Our commitment to Safeguarding

Derry City and Strabane District Council aims to create a safe and welcoming environment, where everyone who uses our services and facilities is respected, valued and kept safe from potential abuse and harm. We work to ensure that our organisation is run in a way that actively prevents harm, harassment, bullying, abuse and neglect. We train our staff to be ready to respond if there is a problem and we actively monitor our progress on an ongoing basis.

Our Safeguarding Policy

Our Safeguarding Policy which aims to:

Put safeguarding at the heart of what we do to ensure the personal safety of all children and adults who use our facilities/services.

Encourage our staff to adopt safe practices when working with children/adults at risk and ensure that new staff are vetted appropriately;
Provide guidance and support to staff and users on how best to record and report suspected abuse;
To work towards continuous improvement in the area of safeguarding to inspire confidence is service users and in our staff alike.

Download our Safeguarding Policy here:

Download our Safeguarding Guide for Users here:

IMPORTANT: If you are concerned and need immediate or urgent help, please refer to our list of useful numbers below.

Useful Contact Numbers

Child Safeguarding (9am – 5pm)

Social Services Western Trust (Gateway):

02871 314090

Adult Safeguarding (9am-5pm),

Social Services Western Trust: (Gateway):

028 7161 1366

 

Children and Adult Safeguarding

Regional Out of Hours Service

028 9504 9999

Police: Urgent/Emergency

999

Police: Non-Urgent

101

NSPCC Child Safeguarding Helpline

For parents and other professionals

08 8800 5000

Childline

For Children

0800 1111

Domestic Violence Helpline

 

080 8802 1414

Forced Marriage Unit

020 7008 0151

 

Human Trafficking

080 0012 1700

 

Mental Health & Wellbeing Services

https://tinyurl.com/y6xkebvu 

 

 

Safeguarding is everyone’s business. Together we can make a difference.

Derry City and Strabane District Council is a member of the Leisurewatch scheme which provides training and support to our staff to help them recognise concerning behaviour and take action to stop it, making our public spaces safer for all of us.