How well do safeguarding arrangements work in the Isle of Man?
A working group from the Legislative Council wants to hear from people who have sought safeguarding support, and from also from the organisations that help them.
The working group is reviewing the Safeguarding Act 2018 to consider whether it has improved safeguarding arrangements and outcomes for children and vulnerable adults, and whether changes are needed. The terms of reference for the inquiry can be found here.
A working group spokesperson said: “Safeguarding means protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse, exploitation and neglect, including self-neglect.
“We welcome submissions from people with personal experience, family members and carers, charities, voluntary organisations and others involved in safeguarding.”
You do not need to be familiar with the Act or to have had contact with the Safeguarding Board to respond.
“We welcome experiences involving the board, health and social care services, schools, the police or other organisations with safeguarding responsibilities.”
The call for evidence is not a way to report a safeguarding concern or request urgent help. If you are concerned about someone’s safety, please report your concern to the relevant team, which can be contacted through here:
Safeguarding Board Information
What the Inquiry Will Deal With
Examples from personal experience are welcome but the inquiry cannot investigate individual complaints.
The spokesperson said: “Please focus on how concerns about abuse, exploitation or neglect were handled and what your experience suggests about the wider safeguarding arrangements.”
The inquiry cannot investigate or resolve individual complaints or intervene in individual cases.
“Please avoid including names or details that could identify other individuals.”
How to Respond
The working group has set out the information it wants to hear.
1. Are you answering as an individual or on behalf of an organisation? If the latter, state the organisation.
“Please tell us about your experience of seeking or receiving help with concerns about abuse, exploitation or neglect, either for yourself or someone else.
“Organisations are welcome to describe their experience of supporting people with these concerns.”
The other questions are intended to be prompts, rather than each requiring a specific answer.
But respondents are asked to specify whether their feedback relates to safeguarding matters concerning an adult or a child.
2. How easy or difficult is it to find out where to raise a safeguarding concern?
3. What was your experience of the referral process?
4. What is your experience of how departments or organisations respond when safeguarding concerns are raised?
5. What helps or makes it difficult to access the support needed?
6. What is your experience of how different teams or organisations work together when responding to safeguarding concerns?
7. How are people’s views, wishes and needs taken into account in decisions about their safety?
8. What difference did the response to safeguarding concerns make to the safety and wellbeing of those involved?
9. What, if anything, would you change about the way safeguarding concerns are raised and addressed?
10. For organisations: How well do the guidance and support available help your organisation fulfil its safeguarding responsibilities?
11. For organisations: How helpful is the available safeguarding legislation, guidance and support to your organisation?
Written submissions should be sent to to committees@tynwald.org.im by December 18.
Tynwald may make public information it receives, but personal contact details are redacted.
“If there is any other information in your submission which you do not wish the Committee to publish, or which you believe the Committee should not publish, please contact this office as soon as possible and explain why.”
The MLCs on the working party are: Kirstie Morphet, Rob Mercer, and Gary Clueit.