Keeping children safe is the responsibility of all professionals and everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play. Nothing is more important than children’s welfare. Children who need help and protection deserve high quality and effective support as soon as a need is identified.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
- protecting children from maltreatment
- preventing impairment of children’s health or development
- ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
- taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes
The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in its constitution is committed to ensuring that the health and wellbeing of all children, including Looked After Children, are met.
The Children Act (1989/2004) and Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government, 2018) underpin the work of the Safeguarding and Looked After Children Team who support the CCG in discharging their duties for children and families living across Hampshire. Section 11 of the Children Act (2004) places a legal duty on all health organisations, including the CCG to ensure that in discharging their functions, they have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
What to do if you are worried:
Safeguarding is everybody’s business. If you are concerned that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed then please follow the links below.
The Hampshire Safeguarding Children Board Interactive Thresholds Chart can help to support professionals to assess the level of risk and the next steps to take.
All referrals to Children’s Services must be submitted via an Inter-Agency Referral Form (IARF). This form is secure and will be prioritised over all other contacts. Once completed, these forms will be automatically forwarded to the Children’s Reception Team and an acknowledgement will be sent to your email address. In an emergency situation always call 999.
The CCG Safeguarding and Looked After Children Team can be contacted for advice and support via:
Tel: 02380 627645
Email: WHCCG.SafeguardingChildren@nhs.net
You may also find the following links useful:
- Hampshire Safeguarding Children Board
- Hampshire County Council Children’s Services
- Hampshire Police – For non-emergencies phone 101
- NSPCC – 0808 800 5000
- Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously with any information about crime – 0800 555 111
- Childline – 0800 1111