Safeguarding

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's 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 (2018).

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

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has a child protection policy in place that meets with the requirements of Working Together ( 2018) and links with the Pan Dorset Safeguarding Children Board Policies and 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.

All staff within Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust must have undertaken level 1 or higher mandatory child protection training. Training is electronically recorded on the Electronic Staff Record and compliance is audited monthly.

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 (2018).

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is represented at Executive level on the Dorset Safeguarding Children Board and the Named Professionals are activity involved in the sub committees.

The Board level Executive Lead with the responsibility for safeguarding in Dorset County Hospital  NHS Foundation Trust is Nicky Lucey, Director of Nursing and Quality.

The Board of Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has a safeguarding children group that meets quarterly and an Annual Report is submitted to the Trust Board.

Patricia Miller
Chief Executive
15 March 2019