SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY The child s needs are paramount, and the needs and wishes of each child, be they a baby or infant, or an older child, should be put first Working Together 2015 p 8 Keeping children safe is everybody s business - we all have a responsibility both in our private and professional lives. If you think a child is at risk of harm, you must take action. If you think a child or children may be in immediate danger, call 999. Otherwise contact Wandsworth Children s Social Care on 020 8871 6622. Out of hours call 020 8871 6000. The Designated Doctor and Nurse are also a valuable source of advice and support for concerns regarding child safeguarding. In addition the Wandsworth Safeguarding Children s Board website (www.wscb.org.uk) also contains useful information and guidance for professionals and members of the public alike. Version: 4 Supersedes: Version 2013 Ratified by: Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group (WCCG) Date ratified: Name of originator/author: Dr Peter Green (with thanks to Alison Browne, Director of Nursing and Quality, Lewisham CCG) Name of responsible WCCG Safeguarding Sub-Committee committee/ individual: Effective from: July 2016 Review date: July 2017 Target audience: WCCG Board and employees and all commissioned services Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 1
Contents Point Heading Page Executive Summary 3 1. Policy Statement 4 2. Scope 5 3. Definitions 5 3.1 Children and Young People 5 4. Duties and Responsibilities 5 4.1 The Governing Body Lead Senior Clinical Director for Safeguarding 5 4.2 Lead Nurse 5 4.3 Designated Professionals and Named GP 6 4.3.1 CCG Safeguarding Professional Supervision 6 4.3.2 Wandsworth Safeguarding Children s Board Arrangements 6 4.4 Responsibilities of Wandsworth CCG for Safeguarding Children and Young People 7 4.5 Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group 8 4.6 Governing Body 8 5. Safeguarding Through Contracting Arrangements With Providers 8 5.1 Contracts and Service Level Agreements 8 5.2 Primary Care and Other Non CCG Contractors 9 5.3 Safeguarding Policy 9 5.4 Staff Training and Continued Professional Development 9 5.5 Safe Recruitment and Disclosure, Vetting and Barring Procedures 9 5.6 Procedures for Responding to Allegations Against Staff 9 5.7 Inter-agency Working 10 5.8 Arrangements for Information Sharing 10 5.9 Supervision 10 5.10 Policy for Managing Serious Incidents (SIs) and Complaints 10 5.11 Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) 10 5.12 Child Death Reviews 10 5.13 Managing Internal Commissioned Services Safeguarding Concerns 11 5.14 Monitoring and reviewing 12 Appendices Appendix A-FGM Pathways- Mandatory Reporting and Safeguarding 13 Appendix B - Legislative Framework and Guidance 15 Appendix C - Terms of Reference for the WCCG Safeguarding Committee 19 Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 2
Executive Summary Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group (WCCG) has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. The safeguarding roles, duties and responsibilities of all organisations in the NHS including those of CCGs, are laid out in the NHSE Accountability and Assurance Framework (2015) which sets out and provides the framework that applies to child safeguarding. Each health organisation commissioned by WCCG will be required to adhere to this framework. Working together with local authorities and other partner agencies they must ensure that services for safeguarding children and young people are actively managed. This policy document is in line, and should be used in conjunction with, the Pan London Child Protection Procedures 5 th Edition (2016). Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group are expected, as described in section 5.0 of this policy, to ensure that arrangements are in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people through contracts. There is extensive guidance from National policy, reports, and legislation that governs the direction, to which services are provided, managed and monitored, these can be seen at Appendix B. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 3
1. Policy Statement The aim of NHS Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group is to improve the health and reduce health inequalities of Wandsworth people and to commission the highest quality health services on their behalf ensuring good governance and proper stewardship of public resources. The safeguarding of children and promoting their wellbeing is the most important thing we contribute to and therefore through the commissioning process we aim to achieve the following: The best health and social care for the children of Wandsworth. The promotion of inclusion, access and child engagement. The reduction of health and social inequalities. Improvements in partnership working to achieve greater coordination of care for children, families and carers. Support and care at the earliest possible point of need to prevent escalation. Ensuring that children have a positive experience of care. Improvements in respect for child dignity and self-determination. This policy places a focus on the process and contractual arrangements that will ensure the safeguarding of all children in our community, through proactive service provision, staff training and awareness to prevent harm for children, young people and to promote their wellbeing. This policy ensures that, with Wandsworth Borough Council and our partners on the Wandsworth Safeguarding Children s Board there is assurance that services are coordinated and, wherever possible, integrated, to effectively safeguard and protect children and young people in Wandsworth. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 4
2. Scope This policy applies to the WCCG Board, all its employees, all Health Care Provider Services commissioned by the Board, and those services jointly commissioned with the Wandsworth Borough Council (WBC). It expects that all services have arrangements in place that will ensure that children and young people are safeguarded and their wellbeing is promoted. It will also seek assurances through effective multidisciplinary and interagency working to ensure they achieve efficient safeguarding standards. WBC children services department will co-ordinate enquiries in dealing with child safeguarding allegations that meet the threshold for possible intervention. 3. Definition and services 3.1 Children and Young People This document applies to the safeguarding of all children and young people. They are defined as all individuals who are under 18 years of age: Children 0-5 years old are considered to be the most vulnerable age group; specialist health and social care services, as well as parenting education opportunities, are provided to support the development of these children; Children 5-16 years benefit from other health and social care services, as well as education, to monitor development and progress; Children and young people with mental health or learning difficulties present additional need and therefore, through appropriate health, education and social care continue to be monitored through their development. 4. Duties and Responsibilities of WCCG 4.1 The Executive Lead on the Board Executive Lead for Safeguarding The Registered Nurse on the Board (is the board executive for safeguarding) and will be accountable to WCCG Board for providing assurance that the range of safeguarding statutory duties are discharged and that all responsibilities are met. The Executive Nurse on the Board will be responsible for ensuring that all the organisations from which the CCG commissions services provide a safe system that safeguards children and young people. This includes the CCG s having an internal governance framework and operating arrangements that can properly Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 5
implement and support robust systems to monitor all safeguarding requirements. This includes an early warning system of a failing provider. 4.2 Deputy Director of Quality & Lead Nurse The Deputy Director of Quality and Lead Nurse will be responsible for the management of the safeguarding team and support the Executive Nurse on the Board to undertake their role. The Lead Nurse is responsible for the recruitment and management of the designated professionals and the Named GP for Safeguarding Children, and ensuring that they receive developmental training and supervision appropriate to their role and personal development. The Designated Officer for allegations against staff for WCCG will be the Deputy Director of Quality and Lead Nurse 4.3 Designated professionals and Named GP WCCG employs or has access to the following designated professional: Designated Nurse for Safeguarding Children and Looked After Children (LAC) Designated Doctor for Safeguarding Children Designated Paediatrician for Child Deaths Designated Doctor for Looked After Children (LAC) All the designated professionals are employed in a senior capacity to influence local thinking and practice, and provide expert advice and support to the CCG and partner agencies. They are all members of the WCCG Safeguarding Committee and report to the Governing Body through the Integrated Governance Committee (IGC) for learning and actions. The CCG employs a Named GP for Safeguarding Children who also attends the WCCG Safeguarding Committee. 4.3.1 CCG Safeguarding Professionals Supervision Designated professionals and the Named GP receive regular safeguarding and child protection supervision and peer review and undertake reflective practice. This will be funded and provided by an external provider with the relevant expertise. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 6
4.3.2 Wandsworth Safeguarding Children Board arrangements WCCG is an active partner and co-operates fully with the Wandsworth Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB), ensuring appropriate senior and clinical representation at the WSCB and its sub-committees where necessary. The WSCB continues to be the key statutory mechanism for agreeing how the relevant organisations in each local area will co-operate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and for ensuring the effectiveness of those processes. WCCG has agreed with the Chair of WSCB that: The CCG will be represented on the WSCB by the Designated Nurse for Safeguarding Children, the Designated Doctor for Safeguarding Children, and the Governing Body Lead/Senior clinical Nurse Lead for safeguarding at both Executive and Network Board level. The Designated Doctor for LAC is also to sit on the Executive Board. The Named GP does not attend the WSCB Executive, but is a member of the Network board. Any learning and recommendations from WSCB will be reported to WCCG directly or through the IGC. WCCG will provide representation at the various WSCB sub-groups as required. 4.4 Responsibilities of WCCG for safeguarding children and young people. The responsibilities are to provide a clear governance structure for safeguarding with the Accountable Officer assuming ultimate responsibility for child safeguarding. The WCCG Safeguarding Committee has the responsibility of providing assurance to the Governing Body that all commissioned services are fulfilling their safeguarding responsibilities and to ensure training and awareness of safeguarding is to recommended national standards. The responsibilities are to: Ensure all commissioned services are aware of the WCCG s policy on child safeguarding. Work with local authorities to commission, where possible, integrated services and to ensure assurance is given on a regular and timely basis that jointly commissioned services have appropriate safeguarding standards. Ensure through contracts with commissioned services that health services and healthcare workers contribute to multi-agency working including MASH, MARAC, MAPPA and other multi agency initiatives. Ensure there is a Designated Nurse and Doctor for Child Safeguarding within WCCG who have an overarching responsibility for safeguarding children across the health Economy in the borough of Wandsworth. Ensure there is a named General Practitioner for Safeguarding Children within WCCG. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 7
Ensure there is a Designated Doctor for Child Deaths to support the WSCB. Ensure WCCG access to a Designated Doctor and a Designated Nurse for Looked After Children. Ensure that funding is available to enable the designated professionals and named GP to fulfil roles and responsibilities effectively. Ensure there is a Lead Nurse within WCCG with responsibility for safeguarding and governance and who will provide professional management for the safeguarding team professionals. Ensure funding is available to contribute the WSCB s budget agreed in relevant business plans. Ensure the WCCG Safeguarding Committee reports to the IGC and through them the WCCG Board. Ensure that clinical governance arrangements are in place to assure quality of services contracted by WCCG and joint commissioners with WBC. Monitor the health component of commissioned services in serious case reviews and multi-agency reviews. Ensure that Serious Incident (SI) procedures are followed in relation to the health components of child safeguarding. Ensure that all commissioned health agencies are linked to the WSCB and represented at an appropriately senior level. Provide the strategic health lead in interagency planning within the WCCG and accountability to NHS England. 4.5 WCCG should also ensure that For children and young people: All staff of commissioned service and primary care providers have easy access to paediatricians trained in assessing children and young people who may be experiencing abuse or neglect. Local arrangements, including having the necessary premises, equipment and appropriately trained staff are in place for undertaking forensic medical examinations. The appropriate local authority is informed when a child has been accommodated as an in-patient in the borough for more than three months. 4.6 WCCG Safeguarding Sub-Committee WCCG Safeguarding sub-committee is responsible for: The effective co-ordination of health safeguarding procedures across Wandsworth to ensure the CCG provides robust services to protect vulnerable children and young people. Ensuring that there are robust plans, policy and procedures and adequate training to ensure the highest standards of safeguarding services are provided locally to create an environment which enables children and young people to flourish. The committee terms of reference (Appendix C) which outlines the duties and responsibility for this committee and will be inclusive of all relevant health partners. Representation on partnership committees. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 8
Contributing to the development and implementation of robust safeguarding initiatives in Wandsworth. Putting in place mechanisms for monitoring the performance of commissioned services in relation to safeguarding of children and young people. Setting outcomes with partners for child safeguarding in Wandsworth which will be used to benchmark performance. 5. Safeguarding through contracting arrangements with providers 5.1 Drafting New or Revising an Existing Contract and Service Level Arrangements Using the relevant NHS Standard contract (NHSSC) the responsible commissioner should: Enter the following wording in Schedule 2: The provider is required to demonstrate strong commitment to safeguarding children within all the services they provide and to comply with the commissioner s guidance which is attached. Attach a copy of the Wandsworth CCG Safeguarding Children policy. At the reasonable written request of the Co-ordinating commissioners, and by no later than 10 operational days following receipt of that request, the provider must provide evidence to the Coordinating commissioner that it is addressing any safeguarding concerns raised through the relevant multi-agency reporting systems. If requested by the Co-ordinating Commissioner, the provider must participate in the development of any local of any local multi-agency safeguarding quality indicators and/ or plan. Offer advice, support and time to enable providers to comply with the standards and a time scale by which they will be expected to comply. Consult with the designated professionals for advice and guidance as needed. In making contractual provision for child safeguarding it is not acceptable to include just a generic reference to safeguarding, or limit safeguarding requirement to DBS checks. 5.2 Primary care and other non CCG commissioned contractors: WCCG has fully delegated responsibility for Primary Care Co-Commissioning, and therefore must have robust systems in place to fulfil their role in safeguarding children and Young people. 5.3 Safeguarding policy It is expected that all provider organisations will have comprehensive Child Safeguarding policies in line with national and WSCB guidance. WCCG policies are consistent with the Pan London Child Protection Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 9
Procedures and are reviewed at Board level. All providers will be expected to demonstrate compliance with the Pan London Multi Agency Child Protection Procedures. 5.4 Staff training and Continued Professional Development Staff should be trained and competent to be alert to potential indicators of abuse and neglect in children, know how to act on their concerns and fulfil their responsibilities in line with WSCB policies and procedures. All organisations will have a training policy which includes the skills and competencies commensurate with roles and responsibilities laid down in the intercollegiate document. The associated training expectations must also reflect new guidance or legislation and recommendations from Internal Management Reviews, Local and National Serious Case Reviews and the changing landscape of safeguarding. All staff - including those who predominantly treat adults will be expected to receive the training outlined in such organisational policies. 5.5 Safe Recruitment and Disclosure, Vetting and Barring Procedures All commissioned organisations must have a policy in place for Safer Recruitment in line with current national employment legislation. WCCG has a responsibility to refer recruitment concerns to the Disclosure and Barring Service in accordance with the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. 5.6 Procedures for responding to allegations against staff All organisations will have in place procedures for responding when allegations are made against people who work with children and young people. This obligation includes having a named Senior Officer responsible for ensuring the organisation operates procedures for dealing with allegations, resolves any inter-agency issues and liaises with the WSCB. The Senior Officer will also seek advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer/s (LADOs) who provide such advice and ensures that allegations are dealt with as quickly as possible. Due to the need for timely responses on some occasions, an out of hour s process for managing allegations within the organisation should be defined. 5.7 Inter-agency working WCCG must ensure providers contribute to interagency working through the use of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) 2006 for safeguarding children, as well as ensuring they actively participate in WSCB sub groups, and ensure commissioned services are represented on WSCB. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 10
5.8 Arrangements for information sharing WCCG will ensure all organisations engage with and sign up to WSCB information sharing protocols including MASH, MARRAC, MAPPA and others as required and that the procedures for information sharing are described within their organisational information governance policies. 5.9 Supervision and support Organisations providing services should have a policy and arrangements in place to provide staff with safeguarding supervision and support. The level of supervision provided should be in accordance with the degree and nature of contact that staff have with children and young people. A confidential emotional support service should be provided for staff when dealing with maltreatment of child and young people. Staff must know who their service Safeguarding Lead is and, as importantly how to contact them. 5.10 Policy for Managing Serious Incidents (SIs) and Complaints WCCG must ensure that the Serious Incident and Complaints policy in all commissioned organisations reflect national guidance and includes escalation to the designated professionals. WCCG will also periodically check that themes and trends are understood to ensure that cultural learning has occurred and actions carried through. WCCG will check to ensure that relevant audit reviews are robust. 5.11 Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) Commissioned services will ensure full participation in the processes which form part of Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) and multi-agency reviews (MARs). All agencies must contribute when requested by the safeguarding team of the CCG who will lead on the health components of SCRs and MARs. 5.12 Child Death reviews All child deaths must be reviewed in accordance with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 and WSCB has local responsibility for the Child Death Overview Panel which undertakes this is Wandsworth. Organisations connected with child deaths must be familiar with the relevant WSCB policies and procedures. WCCG is responsible for the funding of the CDOP Designated Paediatrician and the CDOP Manager roles. WCCG and commissioned organisations must have arrangements in place to respond to the review process including providing staff with the time and resources to fully engage. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 11
5.13 Managing Internal and Commissioned Services Safeguarding Concerns If an employee of WCCG has concerns that a child or young person is at risk of harm or abuse, they should notify their line manager and/or local safeguarding lead and Wandsworth Social Services Department. Consideration should also be given to informing the Police. In hours the Designated Professionals will be available for advice and support. Out of hours staff should contact the Social Services Emergency Duty team, and in the case of an emergency staff may consider contacting the Police. Commissioned services must reflect this policy in their own child safeguarding guidance. 5.14 Monitoring and Review The WCCG Safeguarding sub Committee will monitor compliance of this policy through audits. The Designated officer will be responsible for the monitoring, revision and updating of this policy. This policy will be monitored with regard to the implications of equality and diversity on a regular basis. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 12
Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 13 Appendix A
Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 14
Appendix B Guidance and Legislative Framework for Child Safeguarding Policy Introduction Responsibilities for safeguarding children are enshrined in legislation. Decision-making power relating to children lies with those who have parental responsibility for the child. As a child grows in maturity and understanding, the law gives the child a greater say in decisions. Once a child understands fully the choice to be made and its consequences, the child's view prevails, at least as regards consent, though on occasions the courts have been prepared to override a capable child s refusal of life-saving treatment. The Mental Capacity Act covers and empowers children aged 16 and 17. When issues about a child s upbringing, or their money or property, are considered by a court, statute makes it clear that the child s welfare shall be the court s paramount consideration known widely as the paramouncy principle, this has a far-reaching effect on children s social care practice, emphasising to all what a court would need to see in order to approve arrangements. While many key statutory provisions apply directly to a broad range of public bodies, including the NHS and the Police, some key provisions of legislation impose duties directly on local authorities only. The duties are not placed directly on any other agencies. However the NHS, as well as other agencies, is covered by these duties indirectly, because it has statutory duties to co-operate with local authorities over safeguarding. Principles of Practice A full exposition of statutory provisions relating to children s safeguarding can be found in appendix B of the statutory guidance document Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015. There are some broad, fundamental safeguarding duties, namely; there is a duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need. The concept of need is defined very broadly, covering any child whose health or development will be impaired without support, or who has a disability Local authorities also have a further duty to take reasonable steps to prevent children within their area suffering ill-treatment or neglect. All public sector agencies providing services to children, including local authorities and all NHS bodies, must make arrangements for ensuring that their functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 15
A child-centred approach is required. As far as reasonably possible, local authorities must ascertain the child s wishes and feelings, and devise the required support for children bearing those wishes and feelings in mind. Local authorities do not have to provide the support themselves. A local authority must enquire whether it needs to take safeguarding action if it has reasonable cause to suspect a child in its area is suffering, or is at risk of, significant harm. This duty also covers any child in police protection, or under an emergency protection order. It is essential to good safeguarding practice that all agencies and individuals recognise that safeguarding is everyone s business. No individual agency or individual should ever assume that safeguarding issues will be picked up by others. To confirm and illustrate this, there are the following duties on inter-agency cooperation: If, in discharging its safeguarding duties, a local authority asks certain specified agencies for help, those agencies must help as long as it is compatible with their own duties. These agencies include NHS England, CCGs, and all NHS trusts. Local authorities are under a duty to make arrangements to promote co-operation with other agencies, including NHS England and all CCGs, in order to promote the well-being of children in general, and to protect them from harm and neglect in particular. Those other agencies are under an express reciprocal duty to cooperate with the local authority. The task of monitoring inter-agency co-operation falls to the local safeguarding children board (LSCB). Local authorities must establish an LSCB for their area. NHS England, CCGs, designated professionals and local providers should ensure appropriate representation on the LSCB. The local authority and the other board members owe to each other reciprocal duties of co-operation specifically in relation to the establishment and operation of the LSCB. The objectives of an LSCB are to co-ordinate activities of board members to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and to ensure the effectiveness of those activities. LSCBs also commission serious case reviews where abuse or neglect of a child is known or suspected, the child has either died or been seriously harmed, and there is concern over how agencies and service providers have worked together. Documents The legislation and guidance relevant to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children includes the following: 1. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 2. London Child Protection Procedures www.londonscb.gov.uk 3. The Children Act 2004 HM Government Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 16
Internet link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/contents 4. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children 5. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 Internet link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/47/contents 6. Recruiting safely - Safer recruitment guidance helping to keep children and young people safe Internet link http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/assets/0000/7158/safer_recruitment_guidance_nov09.pdf 7. Information Sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers 2015 8. Safeguarding Children and Young people: roles and competences for healthcare staff ( the intercollegiate document ) 2014 9. The Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009 Internet link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/3112/contents/made 10. Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked After Children 2015 11. Safeguarding Vulnerable People in the NHS Accountability and Assurance Framework Other Legal Considerations Vetting and barring There is a statutory scheme for vetting people working with children. It is administered by the Disclosure and Barring Service. The system provides checks on people entering the workforce, and maintains lists of individuals who are barred from undertaking regulated activity with either children or adults at risk of harm or abuse. Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 Statutory guidance places a duty on Community Safety Partnerships to make arrangements for Domestic Homicide Reviews. Health bodies are required to participate in these as requested. Fit and proper persons test There is a new legal requirement that board level appointees for NHS trusts, foundation trusts and special health authorities are fit and proper persons. This requirement excludes individuals who have been involved in any serious misconduct or mismanagement. Clearly safeguarding falls within that definition. Duty of candour Good safeguarding practice requires openness, transparency and trust. There is a legal duty of candour on health service bodies. This duty is to inform people (both in person and in writing) about mistakes or Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 17
other incidents which have not produced the desired outcome, apologise where appropriate, and advise on any action taken as a result. NHS England as a commissioning organisation As a commissioning organisation NHS England is required to ensure that all health providers from which it commissions services (both public and independent sector) have comprehensive single and multi-agency policies and procedures in place to Safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people; that health providers are linked into the Local Safeguarding Children Boards and that health workers contribute to multi-agency working. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 18
Appendix C WCCG SAFEGUARDING SUB-COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE The hand of safeguarding helps all children and adults at risk. It falls to us all to give our hands to these endeavours. Third National NHS Safeguarding Conference Peter Green UPDATED: July 2016 REVIEW DATE: July 2017 AUTHOR: Dr Peter Green Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 19
1. Introduction The provision of high quality safe services is the key organisational principle of the NHS. As a commissioning organisation, Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group (WCCG) is required to ensure that all health providers from whom it commissions services (both public and independent sector) have comprehensive policies and procedures in place to: a) Safeguard and promote the welfare of children and b) Protect vulnerable adults from abuse or the risk of abuse. WCCG also needs to be assured that health providers are linked to the local safeguarding children and safeguarding adult s boards and that they contribute to local multi-agency working. 2. Accountability and Assurance The Safeguarding Sub-Committee is accountable to the WCCG Integrated Governance Committee and through it to the WCCG Board. The Sub-Committee will provide assurance to the Integrated Governance Committee in quarterly reports and to the WCCG Board in annual reports. 3. Purpose To make sure that WCCG does what the law says it must in relation to: a) Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as set out in the Children Act 2004 and b) Safeguarding vulnerable adults as set out in the Safeguarding Adults (Pan London Policies and Procedures as well as comply with its own organisational arrangements for local circumstances. To make sure that national and local safeguarding policy directives are incorporated into everything the WCCG does. To employ clinical leaders and expert advisors to inform service delivery and development, commissioning and help provide assurance to WCCG To make sure there is effective communication about safeguarding between WCCG and provider organisations To make sure that effective processes are in place within WCCG and provider organisations for: a) Safeguarding children and young people b) Safeguarding vulnerable adults c) Domestic violence d) Forced marriage e) The PREVENT agenda To provide oversight of safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults across the commissioned services. To do this it will seek assurance that such services are complying with the following: a) Statutory duties under Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 b) Protecting adults at Risk London multi-agency policy and procedures to safeguard adults from abuse (Pan London Policies and Procedures, 2011) and Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 20
c) Safeguarding Vulnerable People in the NHS: Accountability and Assurance Framework (NHS England, July 2015) This Sub-Committee will also have responsibility for the oversight and monitoring of the Mental Capacity Act 2005: Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) duties and responsibilities of WCCG. 4. Membership See Appendix C CCG Executive Nurse and Board Lead for Safeguarding Chair Director of Corporate Affairs, Performance and Quality Deputy Chair Head of Clinical Governance and Patient Safety / Lead Nurse and Head of Safeguarding Designated Doctor for Safeguarding Children Designated Doctor for Looked After Children (LAC) Named GP for Safeguarding Children Public Health Strategic Lead Looked After Children (LAC) Safeguarding Adults at Risk Lead Nurse Senior Commissioning Managers for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, Older People and Children s Services Other representatives may be co-opted on to the Group as required The membership of the Sub-Committee will be reviewed annually to make sure that it best supports WCCG requirements. 5. Quoracy To be quorate, the following must be present: Chair or Deputy Chair A designated professional for Safeguarding Children A designated professional for LAC Adult safeguarding lead or lead nurse 6. Frequency of Meetings Bi-monthly 7. What the Sub-Committee will do Monitor WCCG safeguarding of children and adults action plans to make sure that everything is in any plan being done and done well Receive annual safeguarding reports from Provider organisations Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 21
Report how compliant commissioner services are with regard to their safeguarding and Mental Capacity Act: DOLS responsibilities Form an overview of Section 11 Children Act 2004 audits and discuss and monitor action plans arising from exception reports from provider services Receive and agree Independent Contractor s Individual Management Reviews (IMRs), and Health Overview Reports from Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) and monitor action plans that arise from them Identify, support and monitor safeguarding children and adults arrangements for WCCG, private providers and independent contractors by means of audits, Quality Assessment Frameworks and other similar tools Write policies and procedures for safeguarding Provide expert child safeguarding and vulnerable adult safeguarding advice to WCCG and partner agencies Develop and implement a Training Strategy to meet the training needs of WCCG staff Participate in multi-agency audits and undertake its own audit, and consider the results Identify, share and promote good practice in the safeguarding of children and adults across the Wandsworth health economy Identify practice that should be improved and make it happen Represent the WCCG at, and actively influence, the Wandsworth Safeguarding Children and Adults Board and sub-groups as appropriate Report the minutes and actions of the Wandsworth Safeguarding Children and Adults Board to the WCCG Integrated Governance Committee Conduct and report on, an annual review of its own effectiveness Make sure that relevant national standards are applied to the recruitment and supervision of people who work with vulnerable children and adults. Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 22
APPENDIX C CCG BOARD Integrated Governance Committee Wandsworth Partnership Boards WSCB and relevant sub groups WSAPB Health and Wellbeing Board Health Economy Group WCCG Safeguarding Sub-Committee CCG Executive Nurse and Board Lead for Safeguarding Director of Corporate Affairs, Performance and Quality Deputy Director of Quality / Lead Nurse Designated Doctor for Safeguarding Children Designated Doctor for Looked After Children (LAC) Designated Nurse for Safeguarding Children and Looked After Children (LAC) Named GP for Safeguarding Children Public Health Strategic Lead Looked After Children (LAC) Safeguarding Adults at Risk Lead Nurse Senior Commissioning Managers for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities, Older People and Children s Services Primary Care Development Team Representative Other co-opted members as required Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Safeguarding Children Policy July 2016 Page 23