1 Training
- All staff, regardless of role, are required to undergo safeguarding training.
- This includes bluestream courses in safeguarding for both adults and children
- Other forms of training include external services, such as woman’s aid.
- The aim is for every staff member to be able to recognise abuse/neglect, understand local procedures and how to refer/escalate concerns.
- As a practice, we use various cases as learning points in our monthly safeguarding meeting – this allows both learning and self-reflection on what we do well but more importantly, how we could have done better.
2. Designated safeguarding leads
- All members of staff must be aware of who the safeguarding leads are.
- This is to ensure that every member of staff, regardless of role, knows who to contact for further information and to escalate any safeguarding concerns as necessary.
- The safeguarding leads are also responsible for ensuring safeguarding procedures are in place and that all staff members are appropriately trained in safeguarding.
- The safeguarding lead in our practice is Dr Nishat Ahmad.
- In the absence of Dr Nishat Ahmad, the next person to contact would be the practice manager Surjit Kaur.
- PA Tarek Muradi can also be contacted if both Dr Nishat Ahmad and Surjit Kaur cannot be contacted.
3. Policies and procedures
- Our practice has clear policies and procedures for safeguarding.
- These include guidance on how to report concerns, how to access support, and how to escalate issues.
- Our practice policies and procedures for safeguarding for both adults and children can be found on the shared drive for all members of staff to access.
- The practice manager, alongside with the safeguarding lead are also there for any additional support/training staff members may require.
4. Effective risk assessment and Collaboration and communication
- As a practice, there are processes in place that allow for identification and assessment of risk factors, particularly for those deemed more vulnerable and who are at risk of potential abuse.
- In general, safeguarding concerns are either picked up internally or by external sources.
- Telephone triage is put in place which is one avenue for safeguarding concerns to be picked up.
- Alternatively, safeguarding concerns can be picked up via different avenues including, health checks, QoF checks, face to face appointments, patients waiting in the waiting area, missed appointments etc.
- Information from external sources is also used to assess and escalate vulnerable patients for safeguarding.
- These include services such as MASH, CASS, BCH, MARAC, schools and police etc.
- Any safeguarding concerns from both internal and external sources are escalated to the safeguarding lead. From here the patient is assessed and reviewed, to provide the appropriate support.
- Every safeguarding concern is discussed as a team to decide whether or not the patient needs to be on the safeguarding register
- Patients on the safeguarding register are discussed as and when required, and for further safeguarding, as a practice a monthly safeguarding meeting is carried out, where every patient on the SG register is discussed
5. Record keeping
- As a practice, we maintain detailed records of all safeguarding incidents, including assessments, interventions and communications with other agencies
- These records are kept to be discussed in our monthly safeguarding meeting, were an MDT meeting is carried out to optimize safeguarding of vulnerable patients.
6. Safeguarding culture
- We cultivate a culture where safeguarding is taken seriously, where staff feel empowered to raise concerns, and where victims and survivors of abuse are supported.
- This is achieved by:
- Creating a welcoming, non-judgmental space where patients feel safe to disclose concerns.
- Considering privacy and confidentiality in consultations.
- Monitoring staff behaviour and ensuring professional boundaries.
Version: 1.1
Date Reviewed: April 2025
Implementation Responsibility: Surjit Kaur and Dr Nishat Ahmad
References
RCGP safeguarding standards for general practice
RCGP Safeguarding toolkit: Introduction | RCGP Learning
Summary of safeguarding standards and capabilities
GP mythbuster 33: Safeguarding children - Care Quality Commission
GP mythbuster 25: Safeguarding adults at risk - Care Quality Commission
Safeguarding - Care Quality Commission
Vulnerabilities: applying All Our Health - GOV.UK
RCGP supplementary guide to safeguarding training requirements for all primary care staff