Safeguarding children statement
1st April 2013
In July 2009 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published a report on their review of arrangements in the NHS for safeguarding children. NHS Direct considers its own processes, procedures and policies with regards to safeguarding children annually and continues to work with its partners to respond to initiatives and reviews at both national and local levels.
In particular, the Board is assured at least annually that NHS Direct has child protection policies and systems in place, which are up-to-date, robust and include 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.
NHS Direct named professionals are clear about their roles and have sufficient time and support to undertake / fulfil their roles.
There is a Board level Executive Director / Lead for Safeguarding (Patricia Hamilton, Chief Nurse and Clinical Director); the Board reviews safeguarding across the organisation at least once a year and has robust audit programmes to assure it that safeguarding systems and processes are working.
NHS Direct works with partners to protect children, and participates in reviews as set out in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’.
NHS Direct has agreed systems, standards and protocols about sharing information about a child and their family both within the organisation and with external agencies.
Criminal Records Bureau checks are undertaken on all relevant staff in accordance with current legislation.
NHS Direct confirms that the Board of Directors has considered its own position with regards to safeguarding children and has the necessary assurance that it is meeting its statutory requirements and is following good practice.
Nick Chapman
Chief Executive
