Approved by Raymond Cullen, Managing Director — next review January 2027

Safeguarding Policy

Cullen Utilities Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults affected by our works.

Safeguarding means protecting an individual's health, wellbeing and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. Safeguarding children, young people and adults is a collective responsibility. We acknowledge our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults affected in any way by our operations, and are committed to safeguarding practices in line with legal requirements, government guidance, best practice and regulatory requirements.

The six principles of safeguarding

  • Empowerment — supporting and encouraging people to make their own decisions and give informed consent.
  • Prevention — taking action before harm occurs.
  • Proportionality — the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
  • Protection — support and representation for those in greatest need.
  • Partnership — local solutions through services working with their communities.
  • Accountability — accountability and transparency in all safeguarding practice.

What we do

  • Promote the safeguarding and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults.
  • Ensure everyone in our employment understands their safeguarding duty and is competent to deal with the situations they may face.
  • Ensure anyone coming into contact with children or vulnerable adults has a suitable DBS check.
  • Communicate and co-operate with the designated safeguarding lead on site so our operations do not affect those nearby, so far as reasonably practicable.
  • Keep records where required and store sensitive data in line with GDPR and safeguarding requirements.
  • Report and act on any safeguarding concerns.
  • Monitor our safeguarding performance and seek improvements, and stay up to date with legislation, regulation and guidance.

This policy is promoted widely and its arrangements are mandatory for all workers in our employment. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action or dismissal.

Definitions

Safeguarding adults. Under the Care Act, this means protecting an adult's right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect, with people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while promoting the adult's wellbeing and having regard to their views, wishes and feelings. People with care and support needs, or with communication difficulties, can be at higher risk.

Safeguarding children. This means protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of their health or development, ensuring they grow up in circumstances consistent with safe and effective care, and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes. Our focus is on preventative action so children are protected from deliberate or unintentional acts that lead to harm.