Safeguarding Children Assurance Statement

The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust collects evidence against regulations concerning Safeguarding set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This evidence is used as part of the registration process with the Care Quality Commission who is the regulator for NHS organisations.

The Trust Board receives an Annual Report on Safeguarding from the Trusts Child Protection and Safeguarding Team. In particular the Board is assured that:

• The Trust meets the statutory requirements with regard to criminal record bureau (CRB) checks.
• The Child Protection and Safeguarding Team review policies and systems and implement action plans as necessary including processes for the follow up of children who miss consecutive outpatient appointments.
• The Accident and Emergency Department has a Lead Nurse for Paediatrics and procedures with which all staff are required to comply.
• Children’s Safeguarding Training Level 1 is embedded in the Trusts Induction Training Programme for all staff.  Staff working directly with children are trained to Level 2 or 3.
• The Trust is represented at the Local Health and Safeguarding meetings and put in place appropriate action plans in response to national recommendations such as those provided by NICE.
• The Trust has a named doctor a named midwife and a named nurse for Safeguarding. The named professionals are fully conversant with their roles.
• The Trust uses recognised self-assessment tools and annual audit to review performance.
• The Director for Nursing and Operations is the Board Executive Director for Safeguarding.

On the basis of this the Board of Directors has the necessary assurance that it meets statutory requirements in relation to safeguarding children.

Chief Executive