Equality, accessibility and safeguarding affect the way Alderstead Council designs and delivers local services. The council's responsibility is to make its own services accessible and safe, recognise concerns and ensure that matters requiring specialist action reach the correct service.

Equality and accessible services

People should be able to understand how to use a council service and to ask for a reasonable adjustment or alternative format where an access need creates a barrier. Equality considerations form part of service design, consultation and public communication rather than being treated as a separate exercise after a service has already been built.

Safeguarding

Staff and services need to recognise safeguarding concerns that arise through council work and follow the applicable escalation arrangements. The council does not replace police investigations, clinical services or specialist safeguarding bodies. Its role is to act responsibly within its own functions and make sure concerns reach the service with the authority and expertise to respond.

Raising an access or safeguarding concern

For an accessibility barrier affecting a council service, describe the service and the adjustment or alternative you need. For an immediate danger or emergency, use the relevant emergency route. For other safeguarding concerns, use the service responsible for the concern rather than waiting for an ordinary council complaint to be processed.