Rural Needs Impact Assessment (RNIA) of Safeguarding All Ages Policy

Published online April 2022

Section 1 - Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016

1A. Name of Public Authority

Belfast City Council

1B. Please provide a short title, which describes the activity being undertaken by the Public Authority that is subject to the Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016.

Replacing and updating the current Safeguarding Policy for 2009 and implementing the new Belfast City Council Safeguarding All Ages Policy 2022.

1C. Please indicate which category the activity specified in Section 1B above relates to.

1D. Please provide the official title (if any) of the Policy, Strategy, Plan for Public Service document or initiative relating to the category indicated in Section 1C above.

Belfast City Council Safeguarding All Ages Policy 2022

1E. Please provide details of the aims and/or objectives of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service.

The Council recognises everyone has a fundamental right to be safe. Whatever the cause, or wherever it occurs, harm caused to children, young people or adults by abuse, exploitation or neglect is not acceptable. In response to Keep Safe Children – Our duty to Care  (2017) and Keep Adults safe – A shared responsibility (2015) published by Volunteer Now to reflect development in Safeguarding and changes in legislation and guidance, we reviewed the current policy and procedure and recommended some improvements. Following this in 2018 we introduced a Safeguarding Panel and began a piece of work to establish robust policies and procedures, demonstrating our commitment to safeguarding and to provide clear and practical support to elected members, staff, agency workers, casual workers, and volunteers.

We have designed this document to be user friendly and to incorporate the ethos that safeguarding of all ages is everyone’s responsibility.

Section 2 – Understanding the impact of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service

2A. Is the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service likely to impact on people in rural areas?
(If the response is NO GO TO Section 2E.)

No

2B. Please explain how the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas.

The intention of the Belfast City Council Safeguarding All Ages Policy 2022 is to impact positively on all people - staff, service users, contractors and volunteers - in fact all people who come into contact with the council, across all geographical areas of Belfast, regardless of whether they live in a rural or urban area.

2C. If the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently from people in urban areas, please explain how it is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently.

Not applicable

2D. Please indicate which of the following rural policy areas the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to primarily impact on.

2E. Please explain why the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is NOT likely to impact on people in rural areas.

The intention of the Belfast City Council Safeguarding All Ages Policy 2022 is to safeguard all people - staff, service users, contractors and volunteers - in fact all people who come into contact with the council, across all geographical areas of Belfast, regardless of whether they live in a rural or urban area.

Section 3 – Identifying the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas

3A. Has the Public Authority taken steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas that are relevant to the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?
(If the response is NO GO TO Section 3E)

No 

3C. Please provide details of the methods and information sources used to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas including relevant dates, names of organisations, titles of publications, website references, details of surveys or consultations undertaken etc. 

Not applicable

3D. Please provide details of the social and economic needs of people in rural areas which have been identified by the Public Authority

Not applicable

3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas?

The intention of the Belfast City Council Safeguarding All Ages Policy 2022 is to safeguard all people - staff, service users, contractors and volunteers - in fact all people who come into contact with the council, across all geographical areas of Belfast, regardless of whether they live in a rural or urban area.

We did not directly take steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas, as the policy applies to all people regardless of the socio-economic status or needs or where they reside in the city.

Section 4 – Considering the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas 

4A. Please provide details of the issues considered in relation to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

Due regard has been given to the Rural Needs Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, however it is not considered that the Belfast City Council Safeguarding All Ages Policy 2022 will have a material impact on the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

The intention of the Belfast City Council Safeguarding All Ages Policy 2022 is to safeguard all people - staff, service users, contractors and volunteers - in fact all people who come into contact with the council, across all geographical areas of Belfast, regardless of whether they live in a rural or urban area.

Section 5 – Influencing the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service

5A. Has the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, been influenced by the rural needs identified?

No

5B. Please explain how the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, has been influenced by the rural needs identified?

No specific rural needs/impacts have been identified in undertaking this assessment and therefore there are no rural needs to influence the development of the policy.

5C. Please explain why the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or the delivery of the Public Service, has NOT been influenced by the rural needs identified.

No specific rural needs/impacts have been identified in undertaking this assessment and therefore there are no rural needs to influence the development of the policy.

Section 6 – Documenting and Recording

6A. Please tick below to confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained by the Public Authority and relevant information on the Section 1 activity compiled in accordance with paragraph 6.7 of the guidance.

I confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained and relevant information compiled.