Safeguarding
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to protect the health, well- being and human rights of children, young people and adults at risk, enabling them to live free from abuse, harm and neglect.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Abuse, what is it?
Abuse is a violation of a person’s human and civil rights by another individual. It is where someone does something to another person that puts them at risk of harm and impacts on their health and wellbeing.
It can take many forms, ranging from disrespect to causing someone physical or mental pain. It can occur in someone’s home, a care home, hospital or a public place.
Anyone can become a victim of abuse- it’s no reflection of intelligence, strength or worth.
Children are also especially vulnerable to abuse. Those with care and support needs, such as older people or people with disabilities, are also more likely to be abused or neglected.
Where do I report a concern about a child?
You must always disclose your concerns if you believe a child is being abused. To do nothing is not an option.
Speaking up can help that child get help as soon as possible.
To report your concerns to your local safeguarding team, please see below for the contact details:
Central Bedfordshire:
Phone: 0300 300 8585
Out of hours: 0300 300 8123
Website: https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/11/children_and_young_people/112/child_protection_-_safeguarding_children_and_young_people
Luton:
Email: mash@luton.gov.uk
Phone: 01582 547653
Out of hours: 0300 300 8123
Website: https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/Show/Health_and_social_care/safeguarding/safeguarding_children/Pages/default.aspx
Milton Keynes:
Email: children@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Phone: 01908 253169 or 01908 253170
Out of hours: 01908 265545.
Website: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/childrens-social-care/worried-about-child
Bedford:
Phone: 01234 718700
Out of hours: 0300 300 8123
Website: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/children-and-families/safeguarding-children-harm-and-child-protection-0
Buckinghamshire:
Phone: 01296 383 962
Out of Hours: 0800 999 7677
Website: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/care-children-and-families/child-protection-and-safeguarding/
Where do I report a concern about an adult?
You must always disclose your concerns if you believe an adult is being abused. To do nothing is not an option.
Speaking up can help that adult at risk get help as soon as possible.
To report your concerns to your local safeguarding team, please see below for the contact details:
Central Bedfordshire:
Phone: 0300 300 8122
Out of hours: 0300 300 8123
Website: https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/18/health_and_social_care/335/protecting_vulnerable_adults_from_harm
Luton:
Phone: 01582 547730 or 01583 547563
Website: https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/Show/Health_and_social_care/safeguarding/safeguarding_adults/Pages/default.aspx
Milton Keynes:
Email: safeguardingadults@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Phone: 01908 252835
Out of hours: 01908 725005
Website: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/adult-social-care/safeguarding-adults-and-children/worried-about-adult
Bedford:
Email: adult.protection@bedford.gov.uk
Phone: 01234 276222
Fax: 01234 276076
Website: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/adult-social-care/community-teams/bedford-borough-safeguarding-adults-team
Buckinghamshire:
Phone: 0800 137 915
Out of Hours: 0800 999 7677
Website:https://careadvice.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/protecting-people-at-risk-of-abuse/report-abuse-of-an-adult/
Organisations that can help
Below is a list of organisations involved in the safeguarding of adults and children.
NSPCC:
The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity that aims to help children who’ve been abused, protect children at risk and find the best ways to prevent child abuse from ever happening.
You can report abuse to the NSPCC.
Website: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
Telephone: 0808 800 5000
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Childline:
Childline is there to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, their trained counsellors are there to support you.
Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night.
Website: https://www.childline.org.uk/
Telephone: 0800 1111
You can contact Childline via 1-2-1 chat or online. You can visit the website to do this.
Respond
Respond is a national charity providing therapy and specialist support services to people with learning disabilities, autism or both who have experienced abuse, violence or trauma.
Website: https://respond.org.uk/
Telephone: 020 7383 0700
Email: admin@respond.org.uk
Domestic Violence:
For Women:
Women’s Aid:
Empower survivors of domestic abuse by keeping their voices at the heart of our work. Their range of support services help thousands of women and children every year.
Website: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk
Online chat: https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/
For Men:
ManKind:
Mankind provide an information, support and signposting service to men suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband. This can range from physical violence or object throwing to abuse such as constant bullying or insults.
Telephone: 01823 334244 (helpline)
Website: mankind.org.uk
For LGBTQIA+:
Galop:
GALOP have a team of professionals who support LGBT+ individuals who have experienced hate crime, sexual violence and/or domestic abuse, forced marriage, so called conversion therapies, honour based violence as well as other forms of abuse.
Telephone: 0800 9995428
Email: help@galop.org.uk
Website: galop.org.uk
Honour Based Abuse:
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana was founded by Dr Jasvinder Sanghera CBE, after she escaped a forced marriage at 15 and tragically lost her sister to Honour Based Abuse. In 1993, Karma Nirvana became the first specialist charity for victims and survivors of Honour Based Abuse in the UK.
Since then, they have led the campaign against Honour Based Abuse – supporting, empowering and educating those impacted, so they can live a life free of abuse. They also run the national Honour Based Abuse Helpline.
Helpline: 0800 5999 247 Monday- Friday 9:00- 17:00
Website: https://karmanirvana.org.uk/
Practice Statement
It is the responsibility of every NHS funded organisation and health care professional to ensure that children and people in vulnerable circumstances are not only safe but also receive the highest possible standard of care. Eastgate Surgery acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
We remain committed to best practice and high-quality service provision which prioritises the safeguarding of our patients who are, or may be, at risk.
Our responsibilities:
The practice, in line with our Safeguarding Children Policy and Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy and Procedure:
- Respond quickly and appropriately where abuse is suspected, or allegations are made.
- Have a robust system for dealing with, escalating, and reviewing concerns.
- Remain aware of child and adult protection procedures and maintain links with other bodies, especially the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Integrated Care Board (ICB) appointed contacts.
- Will liaise with other agencies, such as Social Services and the Police where additional support, intervention or information sharing is necessary.
Our robust approach:
The practice Safeguarding Review Panel assembles weekly and is attended by a variety of practice clinical, non-clinical and management professionals, including:
- Designated Safeguarding Lead & Managing Partner Dr Abdullah Khan.
- Practice Manager Jaya Patel.
- Deputy Clinical Safeguarding Lead Younis Din.
- Quality Assurance Manager & Non- Clinical Safeguarding Lead, Domestic Abuse Champion & Domestic Abuse Responder Rebecca Newton- Barry.
- Non- clinical Safeguarding Lead Vivienne Flitton.
- Care Coordinator Carley Kent.
Our Safeguarding Review Panel discusses any new cases that have been brought to the attention of the Designated or Deputy Clinical Safeguarding Lead & Non- clinical Safeguarding Lead. The team also examines our safeguarding records to discuss and manage any updates to historic cases which we continue to monitor using our robust process and analytics.
Eastgate Surgery would like to assure you that we are always here to listen and to support. We encourage anyone reading this statement to come forward to the practice should they have any concerns they wish to disclose regarding a child or adult at risk.
