Trust overview
Contact our Safeguarding team
- Phone - 01923 217294 or 01923 217009
- Email - westhertssafeguarding
@nhs.net
About safeguarding
Safeguarding is a fundamental responsibility for all healthcare staff. Every person adult or child has the right to live free from violence, fear, abuse, and neglect. Protecting people who may be at risk is a shared duty across health, social care, and partner agencies.
Core Principles
- Everyone has the right to live free from abuse, harm, and exploitation.
- Everyone has the right to independence, even when this involves a degree of risk.
- Safeguarding is everyone’s business all staff play a role in identifying and responding to concerns.
Safeguarding is everyone's business.
Safeguarding adults (18+)
The Care Act 2014 provides the legal framework for safeguarding adults at risk of abuse or neglect.
Who does the Care Act apply to?
Statutory guidance states that safeguarding duties apply to any adult who:
- Is aged 18 or over, and
- Has needs for care and support, and
- Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
- Is unable to protect themselves because of those care and support needs.
What is abuse?
A “Person at Risk” (vulnerable adult) may experience:
- A single act or repeated acts
- Acts of commission (something done)
- Acts of omission (something not done, such as neglect)
- Exploitation, which can also lead to harm
Categories of abuse are defined in the Care Act and include physical, emotional, financial, sexual, neglect, organisational abuse, and more.
Safeguarding children and young people
Safeguarding children involves protecting them from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and ensuring they grow up in safe, supportive environments that allow them to thrive. All children, regardless of their background or circumstances, have the right to be protected from harm. In healthcare settings, safeguarding is a shared responsibility that applies to every member of staff.
Safeguarding practice is shaped by legislation, including the Children Act 1989 and 2004, which establish that a child’s welfare must always be the paramount consideration. These Acts set out the duties of local authorities, health services, and partner agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) provides the statutory guidance that explains how organisations should work together, share information, and respond to concerns. Because it is statutory, it must be followed unless there is a clear and defensible reason not to.
Within the Trust, all staff have a responsibility to ensure that children are safe in every environment they encounter. This means being alert to signs of abuse or neglect, recognising when a child or young person may be at risk, and understanding that concerns may arise not only from the child’s presentation but also from the behaviour or circumstances of parents, carers, or other adults.
If a member of staff is worried about a child’s welfare, they should raise their concern immediately with the Safeguarding Team and their line manager. When a child is at risk a referral to children services may be made. The Safeguarding Team provide support and guidance throughout the process.
Safeguarding children relies on early intervention, good communication, and effective multi‑agency working. Every member of staff plays a vital role in ensuring that children and young people are protected from harm and supported to achieve the best possible outcomes.
