Safeguarding children and young people
Safeguarding Children and Young People Declaration
Updated April 2012
The North West London Hospitals (NWLH) Trust is committed to the protection of children. We work hard to ensure that children are cared for in a safe, secure and caring environment.
To achieve this we have a number of safeguarding children arrangements in place:
• NWLH Trust meets the statutory requirements in relation to Criminal Records Bureau checks. All staff employed at the Trust undergoes a CRB check prior to employment and those working with children undergo an enhanced level of assessment.
• The Trust ensures it has policies and procedures in place to protect children which reflect national recommendations. The last review of these policies took place in September 2011 and the next review will be completed by October 2012.
• NWLH Trust has a process in place for following up children who miss outpatient appointments within any speciality to ensure their care and ultimately their health is not affected in any way. In addition the Trust has a system in place for flagging children for who there are safeguarding concerns.
• In compliance with the Intercollegiate Document 2010, the Trust has a Safeguarding Children Training Strategy in place to deliver child protection training. This strategy is reviewed annually by the NWLH Safeguarding Children Board; it was last reviewed in September 2011. There are currently three levels of training Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. All eligible staff have undertaken or have a planned date to complete relevant safeguarding children training. Training figures are available on request.
The Clinical Leads for Safeguarding
The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust has named professionals who lead on issues in relation to Safeguarding Children. They are clear about their role, have time allocated and receive relevant support and training to undertake their roles, which includes close contact with other social and health care organisations. The three professionals we have are a named nurse, a named doctor and a named midwife for child protection.
The Director of Nursing is the Executive Director lead for Safeguarding Children and also chairs the NWLH Trust Safeguarding Children’s Board which reports to the Trust Board.
Assurance
The NWLH Trust Board takes the issue of safeguarding extremely seriously and receives an annual report on safeguarding children issues. The next annual report is due in June 2012. The Trust Safeguarding Children Board meets monthly and reports to the Trust Governance, Compliance and Risk Committee quarterly.
As part of this process the Trust Board has robust audit programmes to assure it that safeguarding systems and processes are working. The Trust also participate actively in Brent and Harrow’s Local Safeguarding Children Boards and sub-groups which include representation from health, social care, education and the police, to ensure front line staff are able to work together to protect children.
Last updated: 15th March 2012
Originally written: December 2009 (updated: November 2010 and March 2011)