Safeguarding_Children_Public_Declaration_-_Preparing_for_Care_Quality_Commission_registration

Safeguarding Children Public Declaration – Preparing for Care Quality Commission registration Following the tragic case of Baby Peter, the Department of Health asked all NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts to review their safeguarding arrangements for children and publish a statement on how they are fulfilling their obligations. Health organisations were specifically asked to look at ‘Board Assurance’ around child protection systems, including governance arrangements, leadership, training and staffing and partnership working.

This declaration will be a key part of the Care Quality Commission Registration for April 2010.

The following table outlines the current position at NHS Kirklees and was formally agreed at the Board on 29th September 2009.

Assurance Requirements 1. NHS Kirklees meets its statutory requirement of carrying out Criminal Bureau checks on relevant employees.

2. Child protection policies and systems are up to date and robust.

3. A process is in place for following up children who miss outpatient appointments.

4. An alert system is in place to flag up children whose safeguarding is of concern.

Completed Additional Information Yes / No Yes From 2009 the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is responsible for the barring and vetting of all employees and volunteers who work with children and vulnerable adults. NHS Kirklees has a clear timetable and has identified key actions to make sure it meets the ISA’s registration requirements. It has also informed GPs and other independent contractors of their responsibilities in relation to the staff they employ.

Yes NHS Kirklees has robust child protection policies and systems which are regularly reviewed to make sure they reflect local and national guidance.

Yes This is in NHS Kirklees Child Protection policy documents.

Yes

NHS Kirklees has clear systems to identify children where there are safeguarding concerns, including those who are subject to child protection plans. How to identify children who are at risk is now

5. All staff working in health care settings Yes (clinical and non-clinical) have undertaken level 1 safeguarding training. This is the level of training set out in Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competencies for Heath Care Staff

6. A training plan has been developed for staff who require more in depth training.

Yes

7. Service agreements and job descriptions provide clarity on the role of a designated and named professional.

Yes

8. Service agreements including job descriptions provide clarity on the role of a designated and named nurse professional.1 9. Board level Executive Director Lead for safeguarding has been identified.

10. The Board reviews safeguarding

Yes

Yes Yes

included in NHS Kirklees’ internal training programme. Work has also been done on improving how we share information on domestic violence and parental health/substance misuse issues..

This is to make sure that children who may be at risk and require safeguarding are identified and appropriate actions taken. NHS Kirklees has a robust supervision and training policy to ensure that the workforce is supported and competent in their safeguarding work.

All staff, clinical and non clinical, receive safeguarding training as part of their induction.

Safeguarding training is now part of the mandatory training programme for all clinical and non clinical staff employed by NHS Kirklees.

Further work is underway to make sure that GPs and other independent contractors fulfil their responsibilities in relation to level one training. Whilst NHS Kirklees does not currently monitor this, work is underway to see how this could be addressed.

NHS Kirklees has a clear Child Protection Training policy which outlines child protection training for all staff groups. Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board has a clear training plan and provides various multi agency training programmes for staff, including independent contractors.

Named and Designated Professionals are in post and service agreements and job descriptions clearly define the role and responsibilities of the named and designated professionals.

NHS Kirklees has clearly defined Job descriptions and service agreements in relation Named and Designated Professionals.

An Executive Director lead for safeguarding is in post.

NHS Kirklees’ Board reviews

arrangements on an annual basis at minimum.

11. The Board is assured that robust audits are in place to ensure safeguarding systems and processes are functioning effectively.

PCT specific questions: 12. PCTs have robust performance monitoring systems in place for all providers, including the independent sector, in relation to safeguarding.

13. PCTs ensure that GP practices and staff have robust systems and practices in place to ensure they can fulfil their role in safeguarding children.

Yes

Yes

No

safeguarding arrangements on a regular basis. An annual report is provided and quarterly reports are provided to the Governance Committee.

Safeguarding is included in NHS Kirklees annual audit programme.

Internal Audit carried out a safeguarding audit in 2008/2009 looking at governance arrangements. An annual Section 11 Audit has also been undertaken in line with statutory requirements (Children Act 2004).

NHS Kirklees has performance monitoring systems in place for all providers but further work is needed to strengthen work with independent contractors from whom NHS Kirklees commission services. NHS Kirklees is currently developing an action plan to address these issues.

NHS Kirklees works with all GP Practices to ensure they have systems and processes to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.

This currently is done through the Quality Outcomes Framework because GP’s work is specified in a national contract. NHS Kirklees is looking at how this can be strengthened. Discussions will take place over the next three months and an action plan will be developed.