About us
Safeguarding
Safeguarding children – mission statement
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, both as service users and visitors to Trust premises. United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust also acknowledges the importance of working with partner agencies to ensure that children have safe, healthy and happy childhoods, with the necessary support which will help them to prepare for adult life.
All staff working within United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, including those services contracted by the organisation, should be aware of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, their responsibilities in recognising children who may be at risk of suffering harm or those in need of protection and how to respond to those concerns. In addition, services that provide predominantly adult focused care must also be aware of the impact that family stress and the needs of parents / carers may have on any children associated with the family.
Review of safeguarding arrangements by the Care Quality Commission, July 2009
On 16 July 2009 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published a report with the findings of their review of arrangements in the NHS for safeguarding children. The report reflected on good progress in a number of areas, but also identified areas where further improvements could be made. NHS Trust hospitals were asked to review services - to ensure all necessary improvements to safeguarding arrangements were being made as they prepare for Care Quality Commission registration in April 2010.
NHS Trust Boards were asked to assess their position against the findings of the report and to assure themselves that requirements are being followed. As a minimum boards should assure themselves that:
- Their organisation meets statutory requirements in relation to CRB (Criminal Record Board) checks
- Child protection policies and systems are up to date and robust, including a process for following up children who miss outpatient appointments and a system for flagging children for whom there are safeguarding concerns
- All eligible staff have undertaken and are up to date with safeguarding training at level 1. The new e-learning package on the e learning for healthcare system and the National Learning Management (ESR) system offers an additional resource to support this. In addition, a review of other training arrangements should be completed within six months, taking account of emerging messages from the national review of safeguarding training
- Designated and/or named professionals are clear about their role and have sufficient time and support to undertake it
- There is a board level executive director lead for safeguarding, the board review ssafeguarding across the organisation at least once a year and has robust audit programmes to assure it that safeguarding systems and processes are working
The safeguarding children agenda is a dynamic process requiring a constant review of practice and policy in relation to the well being of children and young people. In the last 12 months, significant developments have occurred within our Trust and will continue to remain a priority for the organisation, in order to strengthen existing practice.
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