NHS Southwark declaration

Safeguarding children is one of the highest priorities for NHS Southwark and we are therefore committed to ensuring that the risk of physical, sexual, or emotional harm to all children and young people is minimised. As a result a number of safeguarding arrangements are in place.

These include:

NHS Southwark meets statutory requirements in relation to Criminal Records Bureau checks. All eligible staff employed in the organisation undergo a CRB check prior to employment and those working with children undergo an enhanced level of assessment.

All the NHS Southwark Child Protection policies and systems are up to date and robust and are reviewed on a regular basis, ultimately by the PCT Board. The last review occurred in March 2008 and the next review is scheduled for March 2011.

NHS Southwark 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 whom there are safeguarding concerns.

All eligible staff have undertaken relevant safeguarding training and this is regularly reviewed to ensure it is up to date. NHS Southwark has a robust training strategy in place with regard to delivering safeguarding training.

• 85% of all staff in contact with a health care setting that are up to date with level one training
• 87% of clinical staff that are up to date with level two training
• 81% of clinical staff that are up to date with level three training

The last training review occurred in December 2009 and will be reviewed again in December 2010.

NHS Southwark has designated professionals who lead on issues in relation to Safeguarding. They are clear about their role, have sufficient time and receive relevant support and training to undertake their roles, which includes close contact with other social and health care organisations.

The total number of professionals in these roles is one and is broken down by discipline as follows:

• Designated Nurse one WTE

The Director of Nursing is the Executive Director lead for Safeguarding Children and chairs the Child Protection Executive Committee which reports to the board on safeguarding children.

The NHS Southwark Board takes the issue of safeguarding extremely seriously and receives an annual report on safeguarding children issues. The last Annual Report occurred on the November 2009 and the board paper relating to this can be found at www.southwarkpct.nhs.uk under ‘About Us’ and then click on ‘Board Meetings 2009’.

The NHS Southwark Board has robust audit programmes to assure it that safeguarding systems and processes are working

The NHS Southwark Board has robust audit programmes to assure it that safeguarding systems and processes are working.

NHS Southwark has robust and appropriate performance monitoring systems in place with all providers, including the independent sector, in relation to safeguarding children.

NHS Southwark has scrutinised the declarations of all providers from whom they commission services.

NHS Southwark has ensured GP practices and staff have robust systems and practices in place to ensure they can fulfil their role in safeguarding children.

All issues related to safeguarding children are discussed with the relevant Local Safeguarding Children Boards every quarter.

For further information on Safeguarding, please contact Donna Kinnair, Director of Nursing donna.kinnair@southwarkpct.nhs.uk