Safeguarding

All organisations are required to meet statutory responsibilities for safeguarding, which include making sure there is clear leadership and lines of accountability, having appropriate policies and procedures, providing safeguarding training and working in partnership with relevant agencies to protect children and adults at risk of harm.

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to ensuring that all patients, including children and young people, are cared for in a safe, secure and caring environment.

NHS organisations have a safeguarding duty under Section 11 of the Children Act (2004) that places duties on a range of organisations and individuals to ensure their functions and services and any service that they contract out to others are carried out with regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The duties under Section 11 are set out in the Working Together document (2023).

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust meets all statutory requirements in relation to safer recruitment practices, including pre-employment reference checks, screening and have a policy to manage allegations made against staff jointly with Adult / Children’s Services in line with Pan Dorset Safeguarding Procedures.

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has a suite of policies in place that meets with the requirements of Working Together (2023) and the Pan Dorset Children’s Partnership Policies /Procedures. This includes, but is not exclusive to, managing non-attendance, risk assessment, electronic flagging, multi-agency information sharing and the provision of safeguarding advice and leadership.

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has lead safeguarding professionals, Named Doctor, Midwife and Nurse in place to fulfil the requirements as detailed in Working Together (2023).

We believe that safeguarding is everybody's business and all our staff and volunteers are equipped with training to recognise abuse and respond accordingly. We continually seek to progress and develop our training for staff. Our staff are supported by the Safeguarding team.

The Trust Board provides the support and resources to enable the delivery of statutory responsibilities. The Executive Lead for Safeguarding is our Chief Nursing Officer supported by the Director of Nursing and safeguarding professionals across the Trust.