Safeguarding adults and children

Adults

Any adult at risk of abuse, exploitation or neglect should be able to access support to enable them to live a life free from violence and abuse.

As the leader of the local health economy and commissioners of health services on behalf of the local for the population, NHS Brighton and Hove has a key role in safeguarding vulnerable people who are being cared for by health services.

Brighton & Hove City Council hold the lead responsibility for establishing and co-ordinating the local interagency framework for safeguarding adults in accordance with the government guidance “No Secrets”.

In addition the Director of Adult Social Services is expected to ensure “a clear organisational focus on safeguarding adults in vulnerable situations”.

NHS Brighton and Hove fully supports the local authority as the lead for safeguarding vulnerable adults and the implementation of the Sussex multi agency safeguarding procedures.

What is meant by safeguarding?

Safeguarding means enabling people to live their lives free from harm, abuse and neglect, and to have their health, wellbeing and human rights protected. Those most at risk and in need of protection include:

• Children and young people.
• Adults whose circumstances may lead them to be vulnerable.

Examples include:

• those receiving care in their own home that have little or no contact with friends, family or the community;
• people with physical, sensory and mental impairments who do not have access to suitable support;
• people with learning disabilities who are not helped to live independently;
• their carers. 

This also includes the implementation of the national guidance as set out within the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty.

Other adults made vulnerable by the situation they are in. Examples include child birth or when undergoing a medical procedure or examination.

To access further information the Brighton & Hove City Council website.

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Safeguarding children and young people

NHS Sussex is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who receive services within Brighton & Hove. A child is anyone from birth up to their 18th birthday. There is clear organisational responsibility to ensure that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and protecting them from abuse and neglect, is embedded in practice in all our services.

Child safeguarding policy July 2012 (866kb Word file)

Safeguarding Children Declaration

In March 2012 NHS Sussex reviewed their arrangements within Brighton & Hove and their statutory requirements for safeguarding children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004  and  are assured that :

• There is senior management commitment to the importance of safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare.
• There is a Board level Executive Director lead for safeguarding children and that the Board reviews safeguarding across the organisation at least once a year.
• There are lead professionals, including a Designated Nurse and Doctor for safeguarding children with specific responsibility for safeguarding children, who are clear about their role and have sufficient time and support to undertake it.
•  There is a clear statement of our responsibilities towards children available for all staff and a clear line of accountability within the organisation for work on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.                                  
• Service development takes account of the need to safeguard and promote welfare and is informed, where appropriate, by the views of children and families.            
• There are safer recruitment procedures in place including meeting statutory requirements in relation to Criminal Records Bureau checks.
• There is effective inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children .                                                                      
• There are child protection policies and systems that are up to date and robust. 
• There are plans in place to ensure that all staff have undertaken and are up to date with safeguarding training. 
• There are audit programmes to assure its safeguarding systems and processes are working.

NHS Brighton and Hove is also working in collaboration with its commissioned providers and partners to assure their compliance with national and local guidance on safeguarding children. These are:

• Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Sussex Partnership Foundation NHS Trust
• Sussex Community NHS Trust

Health services provided by:

• Brighton and Hove Children & Young People’s Trust
• Primary care services
  
  
  

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