Overview
All children have a right to be safe and should be protected from all forms of abuse and neglect. Safeguarding children and young people is everyone's business, and anything you notice can help a child at risk.
If you are concerned that a child or young person is experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing, abuse or neglect you must take action. Safeguarding is more than protecting children and young people from harm, it is also about promoting their wellbeing and intervening early.
What to do if you are worried about a child
If you're worried about a child, contact your local authority children's social care team:
- Lambeth – 020 7926 5555
- Southwark – 020 7525 1921
You can also visit the government website to find the number for other local authorities across the UK.
If you are worried about a child's immediate safety, contact the police by calling 999.
Some people prefer to talk to their partner, a family member or friend before they make a report and that is fine. You could also speak to a nurse, doctor or teacher about your concerns.
If you are a member of staff, or another professional who works with children, please speak to your Safeguarding Lead before you make a report.
What are we doing?
As part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, we take a number of steps to protect children and young people.
Having safeguarding leads
We have trained experts in senior positions, who lead on child protection and safeguarding.
Hospital services:
- Head of safeguarding and Trust named nurse for safeguarding children – Debbie Saunders
- Named doctor for safeguarding children – Dr John Criddle
- Deputy named doctor for safeguarding children – Dr Emma J Parish
- Named midwife for safeguarding children – Bernadette Gibbings
Lambeth community services:
- Named nurse for safeguarding children – Alberta Awotwi
- Named doctor for safeguarding children – Dr Luximi Kabilan
Southwark community services:
- Named nurse for safeguarding children – Hannah Bracey
- Named doctor for safeguarding children – Dr Nkiru Asiegbunam
The executive lead for safeguarding children is the Trust’s chief nurse, Avey Bhatia.
Training staff
All our staff are required to receive child protection training. We meet the recommended training targets, and we report on this monthly.
Safeguarding policies and systems
All of our child protection policies and systems are up-to-date and are reviewed on a regular basis by the Trust's Board.
Checking our staff
We meet the statutory requirements in relation to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on our staff (previously known as CRB checks). All of our clinical staff working with children undergo an enhanced level of DBS checks.
Working with others
We work closely with local authorities on safeguarding issues and are a member of the Lambeth Safeguarding Children Partnership and Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership.