Safeguarding

In the UK, we have legislation designed to identify and protect children, young people, and adults at risk. Whilst the foundational duties for safeguarding lie within human and equality rights, the mechanisms can be found within the Children Act 1989 and the Care Act 2014. This legislation, along with other legislation such as the Mental Capacity Act 2005, creates a legal framework upon which our national and local policies are developed.

Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and its associated regulations, we are under a duty to provide safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care. The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator that monitors, inspects, and regulates our compliance with these standards.

At Welbeck, we ensure that the duties and principles of safeguarding children, young people, and adults are applied diligently and consistently for everyone, so every contact counts.

Welbeck works closely with agencies to deliver its safeguarding responsibilities collectively. This partnership working enables the clinic to help and support those needing safeguarding support or intervention.

Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 places a duty on healthcare providers to have arrangements in place to ensure that the organisation, and all staff working within it, have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. Welbeck regularly reviews its arrangements against these requirements and is compliant with them.

Safeguarding responsibilities include patients over 18 years old (adults). Under the Care Act 2014, all adults have the right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.

All staff within Welbeck are trained and encouraged to work together to prevent and stop the risks and experience of abuse and neglect, while also ensuring the adult’s wellbeing is promoted. This includes following the principles of Making Safeguarding Personal, which aims to ensure that our safeguarding response is individualised to the person’s own beliefs and wishes, leading to meaningful improvements in their life.

All patients over 16 years old, if necessary, will have their capacity assessed in line with The Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff in all Welbeck centres are trained in domestic abuse awareness and the importance of recognition, ensuring the survivors receive the correct information and support and making referrals when they’re required.

There are posters in all areas of the hospital encouraging patients, staff, and visitors to request help should they need it. A leaflet is also available in all areas, containing essential advice and support agency information.

Safeguarding practice is guided by Welbeck’s Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Safeguarding Adults Policy. These policies are compliant with various pieces of legislation and national and local policy, including The Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, London Safeguarding Children Procedures, the Care Act 2014, Care and Support Guidance (updated August 2024), and London Multi Agency Adult Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.

Welbeck Group has a system for flagging safeguarding concerns. All staff are given additional information and support from specialists within the safeguarding team on all matters in safeguarding, upon request.

Welbeck is fully committed to providing the highest standards of safeguarding practice. Welbeck believes that everyone has the right to:

• live free from abuse and improper treatment

• be protected from harm and exploitation

• be empowered to be part of the solution – no decision about me without me

• have their rights respected and fulfilled

Welbeck has safeguarding accountability and assurance arrangements in place both internally and externally. All staff have access to a Safeguarding Lead within their centre. Each centre has access to the Safeguarding Team. The Safeguarding Team report quarterly to the Safeguarding Committee for Children, Young People and Adults, and the QAPI Board.

Welbeck works in partnership with the Local Safeguarding Children Board and Local Safeguarding Adult Partnership, which ensures multi-agency exposure and sharing of best practice.

Welbeck provides external assurance around safeguarding to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Welbeck has a clear process for ensuring that anyone working with children, young people, and adults has an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before they commence work. Welbeck Directors complete the Fit and Proper Persons Test. Welbeck employs a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian (FSU Guardian). Welbeck Group has a nominated HR Director who works in partnership with our Executive Safeguarding Lead and Safeguarding Leads in the Centres.

All centre staff are trained in line with their role in safeguarding children, young people, and adults, including PREVENT, Domestic Abuse, and the Mental Capacity Act.

Safeguarding training is mandatory for all staff, regardless of their role. The training needs analysis is mapped to the Adult Safeguarding: Roles and Competencies for Health Care Staff Intercollegiate Document (Second Edition) 2024 and the Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competencies for Health Care Staff Intercollegiate Document Fourth Edition) 2019, and is delivered via a range of blended learning, with online and face-to-face training options.