SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
INFORMATION SHEET
Introduction
All clinical and non-clinical staff need to know at least the basics when it
comes to safeguarding children. It is important that we all know what to do if
we have a safeguarding concern.
Remember: Safeguarding children is everyone’s business and we ALL
have responsibilities in this area
Definitions
Safeguarding covers promoting the welfare of children and protecting them
from harm.
A Child is someone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday; this includes
unborn children.
Abuse (including neglect) occurs whenever individuals are maltreated. When
somebody actively inflicts harm on someone else or when they fail to prevent
harm from occurring.
Remember: anyone can be an abuser
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE WORRIED A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED
Make sure you are familiar with and follow your organisation’s/professional
body’s procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare
of children.
Local procedures can be found on www.gscb.org.uk/procedures
If you have child protection concerns (as a result of what you have seen or
been told) talk to your supervisor/line manager/lead safeguarding children
professional to agree what to do next. This could include discussing your
concern with the Designated Doctor or Nurse for Gloucestershire or by calling
the Children and Families Helpdesk and asking to speak to a Social Worker.
Designated Doctor: Imelda Bennett
Designated Nurse: Helen Chrystal
0300 4225702
0300 4211607
Children and Families Helpdesk (office hours):
Emergency Duty Team (out of hours):
Police Control Room (out of hours):
E mail Childrenhelpdeask@gloucesteshire.gov.uk
01452 426565
01452 614194
08454 0901234
Following this if you continue to have concerns refer these to Social
Care via the Children and Families Helpdesk
ACT IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS:
YOU MAY HOLD THE LAST PIECE OF THE JIGSAW
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CHILD PROTECTION
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Countywide
Designated Dr:
Imelda Bennett
0300 4225702
Designated Nurse:
Helen Chrystal
0300 4211607
Named Doctor (GP):
Dr Penelope West
0300 4218527
Consultant Community Paediatricians
 Dr Imelda Bennett
 Dr Sara Motion
0300 4225702
0300 4225705
Referral to Children and Young Peoples Directorate
Office hours:
Out of Hours:
Children’s Helpdesk
Police Control Room
01452 426565
08450 901234
Emergency Duty Team (Social Care)
01452 614194
NSPCC
01452 300616
Safeguarding Children Training
Safeguarding Children training can be accessed through:
NHS Gloucestershire Care Services on
0300 421800
or through the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Board Training
Department
www.gscb.org.uk/training
References
Working Together to Safeguard Children A guide to inter-agency working to
safeguard and promote the welfare of children HM Government 2010
Safeguarding Children and Young People: roles and competencies for health
care staff Intercollegiate Document September 2010
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Gloucestershire Child Protection Flow Chart
Practitioner has a concern about the well being of
a child (or unborn baby).
Practitioner consults with supervisor/line
manager/designated or named professional
Practitioner completes a written record of the
nature and circumstances surrounding the concerns.
The practitioner/ manager seeks advice (if
necessary) from the on duty Paediatrician or
the Children and Families Help Desk
on 01452 583636.
For out of hours social work advice please contact
the Emergency Duty Team Tel: 01452 614 194.
If warranted, the practitioner/manager makes a
referral to the Children and Families Help Desk, Tel:
01452 426565 within 24 hours (immediately if the
concerns are about physical injury or sexual abuse).
The Children and Young People’s Social Care
department will then take responsibility for
managing any subsequent enquiries.
The referrer should
confirm the details of the
concern to CYP
Directorate, in writing,
using the Request for a
Service form, within 48
hours.
Initial Enquiries within 24 hours
The Referral and Assessment Team makes a decision
on what action to take.
Section 17
services
required when
there are
Health/
development
concerns.
May go on to a
Section 47
after the core
assessment.
Referral and Assessment Team decides to complete
an Initial Assessment and Multi-agency
Strategy Discussion is held. These completed
within 7 days of referral.
Child judged to be at continued risk.
Immediately inform Safeguarding Children Service.
Initial Child Protection Conference
Safeguarding Children Service arranges this so that
it is within 15 working days of the Strategy
Discussion.
Child Protection Plan
The participants at the Child Protection conference
identify that the child needs a Child Protection Plan.
Section 47 services required.
Concern about actual and/or
potential significant harm
Child judged not to
be at continued risk

Concerns resolved

Section 17
services offered.
No Child Protection
Plan
Core Group
Multi-agency group that follows through the Child
Protection Plan.
Review Child Protection Conference
Must take place within three months of Initial
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Conference.
Child should remain on a
Child Protection Plan
Child does not need a
Child Protection Plan
anymore
Care Proceedings. Started where child
continues to be at risk of significant
harm despite having a child protection
plan.
Review Child Protection
Conference
Must take place within six months of
previous Review Conference.
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The Role of the Safeguarding Lead in each team
The Safeguarding Lead / Clinical Governance Lead must
1
Have access to and have completed appropriate GSCB training or
CPPE open learning programme (as agreed by NHSG) so they can
fulfil the role as stated below; have a good knowledge of child
protection issues and their management including where to seek
advice; have knowledge of county policies and procedures and
where to seek clarification and advice.
2
Ensure members of the Pharmacy have the appropriate training in
child protection and safeguarding on a regular basis (at induction &
at annual appraisal).
3
Ensure the Pharmacy has a policy (SOP) on Child Protection and
Safeguarding
4
Ensure good record keeping in the pharmacy, in particular ensure
that children known to be subject to Child Protection Plans; children
where there are concerns; have their status recorded in their PMR
and that this information is kept up to date
5
Provide advice to colleagues in relation to safeguarding concerns
as required
6
Act as the nominated Lead for the Pharmacy to raise concerns to
Named and Designated professionals in relation to safeguarding
problems (see list) or difficulties which have arisen whether they are
inter-agency or with other health professionals
7
Act as the nominated Lead for the Pharmacy to alert colleagues as
to Safeguarding updates/alerts or changes in practice
The Safeguarding Lead will ensure that
a) The Pharmacy has a system in place to monitor Safeguarding Children
practice which includes record keeping of incidences
b) The Pharmacy staff have completed the necessary Safeguarding
Children Training as appropriate to their roles
c) The Pharmacy staff have had Criminal Records Bureau checks if
appropriate.
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