Zero Tolerence

1. Training

- All staff, regardless of role, are required to undergo safeguarding training.

- This includes bluestream courses in safeguarding for both adults and children

- Other forms of training include external services, such as woman’s aid.

- The aim is for every staff member to be able to recognise abuse/neglect, understand local procedures and how to refer/escalate concerns.

- As a practice, we use various cases as learning points in our monthly safeguarding meeting – this allows both learning and self-reflection on what we do well but more importantly, how we could have done better.

2. Designated safeguarding leads

- All members of staff must be aware of who the safeguarding leads are.

- This is to ensure that every member of staff, regardless of role, knows who to contact for further information and to escalate any safeguarding concerns as necessary.

- The safeguarding leads are also responsible for ensuring safeguarding procedures are in place and that all staff members are appropriately trained in safeguarding.

- The safeguarding lead in our practice is Dr Nishat Ahmad.

- In the absence of Dr Nishat Ahmad, the next person to contact would be the practice manager Surjit Kaur.

- PA Tarek Muradi can also be contacted if both Dr Nishat Ahmad and Surjit Kaur cannot be contacted.

3. Policies and procedures

- Our practice has clear policies and procedures for safeguarding.

- These include guidance on how to report concerns, how to access support, and how to escalate issues.

- Our practice policies and procedures for safeguarding for both adults and children can be found on the shared drive for all members of staff to access.

- The practice manager, alongside with the safeguarding lead are also there for any additional support/training staff members may require.

4. Effective risk assessment and Collaboration and communication

- As a practice, there are processes in place that allow for identification and assessment of risk factors, particularly for those deemed more vulnerable and who are at risk of potential abuse.

- In general, safeguarding concerns are either picked up internally or by external sources.

- Telephone triage is put in place which is one avenue for safeguarding concerns to be picked up.

- Alternatively, safeguarding concerns can be picked up via different avenues including, health checks, QoF checks, face to face appointments, patients waiting in the waiting area, missed appointments etc.

- Information from external sources is also used to assess and escalate vulnerable patients for safeguarding.

- These include services such as MASH, CASS, BCH, MARAC, schools and police etc.

- Any safeguarding concerns from both internal and external sources are escalated to the safeguarding lead. From here the patient is assessed and reviewed, to provide the appropriate support.

- Every safeguarding concern is discussed as a team to decide whether or not the patient needs to be on the safeguarding register

- Patients on the safeguarding register are discussed as and when required, and for further safeguarding, as a practice a monthly safeguarding meeting is carried out, where every patient on the SG register is discussed

5. Record keeping

- As a practice, we maintain detailed records of all safeguarding incidents, including assessments, interventions and communications with other agencies

- These records are kept to be discussed in our monthly safeguarding meeting, were an MDT meeting is carried out to optimize safeguarding of vulnerable patients.

6. Safeguarding culture

- We cultivate a culture where safeguarding is taken seriously, where staff feel empowered to raise concerns, and where victims and survivors of abuse are supported.

- This is achieved by:

- Creating a welcoming, non-judgmental space where patients feel safe to disclose concerns.

- Considering privacy and confidentiality in consultations.

- Monitoring staff behaviour and ensuring professional boundaries.

Version: 1.1

Date Reviewed: April 2025

Implementation Responsibility: Surjit Kaur and Dr Nishat Ahmad

References

RCGP safeguarding standards for general practice

RCGP Safeguarding toolkit: Introduction | RCGP Learning

Summary of safeguarding standards and capabilities

GP mythbuster 33: Safeguarding children - Care Quality Commission