Safeguarding children

Safeguarding children is everybody’s responsibility.

We ask our staff members to think about family in each and every contact they have with a child, and encourage them to really listen to the voice of the child.

All our staff have a legal duty to safeguard children and promote their welfare. This includes all children, up to their 18th birthday.

Raising a child safeguarding concern

If you’re worried about a child or young person’s safety, you should immediately make a referral to children’s social care at the child's local authority.

In an emergency, or if you need immediate police support, call 999.

Our safeguarding children team

Our Chief Nurse is our executive lead for safeguarding children.

Our safeguarding children team includes several roles:

  • Head of safeguarding
  • Named doctor
  • Named nurses
  • Maternity safeguarding and named midwife

You can contact the team Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm:

Domestic violence and abuse

Domestic violence involves people who are 16 years old or older, who are or have been intimate partners or family members.

It includes:

  • controlling or coercive behaviour, or
  • threats or
  • violence or abuse.

Domestic violence or abuse can include, but isn't limited to, the following types of abuse:

  • psychological
  • physical
  • sexual
  • financial
  • emotional.

Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse - no matter their gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality or background.

How to get help if you're experiencing or are at risk of domestic abuse

Policies, training and partnerships

Policies

We have robust policies and procedures to help our staff safeguard children.

Safeguarding children policy[pdf] 710KB

Training

We've assigned each of our staff members a safeguarding training level from 1 to 4.

This level is based on their role, and means that they receive the right kind of training, according to the national document, Safeguarding children: roles and competencies for healthcare.

We also encourage our staff members to download and use the NHS England safeguarding app.

Partnerships

We work closely with our partner agencies and organisations on safeguarding. As part of this work, we contribute to our Local Safeguarding Children Partnership multi-agency arrangements.