Children and young people safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employed and commissioned staff to share this commitment.
Safeguarding Children is a term for a range of measures and approaches to keeping children safe. It includes child protection, safe recruitment, statutory duties, patient safety, and partnership working between organisations to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
Working Together 2018 is the government’s statutory guidance for all organisations and agencies who work with or carry out work related to children.
NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough as a statutory partner alongside the Local Authority (Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council) and Cambridgeshire Constabulary has published guidance about how they exercise this statutory leadership function. Further information can be found in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Arrangements report or on the Safeguarding Children Partnership Board website.
What to do if you are concerned about a child
Don’t keep it to yourself, if in doubt, seek advice.
If you are concerned that a child may be suffering physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect or is at risk of significant harm you should telephone Children Services using one of the following numbers:
• Cambridgeshire children: 0345 045 5203
• Peterborough children: 01733 864180
• Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team (EDT): 01733 234724
If you are a professional you can report a safeguarding concern using the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Safeguarding Referral Form. All telephone referrals will need to be followed up in writing within 24 hours by the referring professional.
When making a referral it is important that:
• All basic details are completed on the referral form (correct names and spellings, siblings details, date of birth, addresses, ethnicity, first language, disabilities etc)
• The referral must clearly identify the concerns and the impact on the child as well as what support has been provided previously to help families address these concerns and what strengths/resilience is within the family.
• Referrals should set out what the referrer wants to see happen as a result of the referral, and should include the views of the family and, where appropriate, the child or young person.
• The more information that is provided, the easier it is for Children’s Social Care to make a decision about the best course of action to take in respect of the child or young person.
Once you have completed the referral form it will need to be sent to: referralcentre.children@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Guidance for GP practices
The NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Safeguarding Children team has developed an information resource pack for GP practices, including details about where to access training.
NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough contacts
Safeguarding Children’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
Email: capccg.safeguardingchildren@nhs.net
- Safeguarding People Lead: Helen Duncan
- Designated Nurse – Safeguarding Children: Jenny Harris
- Deputy Designated Nurse – Safeguarding Children: Ellie Taylor
- Designated Doctor – Safeguarding Children: Dr Emilia Wawrzkowicz
- Designated Doctor – Child Death: Dr Emilia Wawrzkowicz
- Designated Nurse – Children in Care: Catherine York
- Named Nurse Safeguarding Children – Primary Care: Chiara Jones
Emails of a confidential nature or containing patient data should be sent from an nhs.net account (or other secure account) to the nhs.net email accounts above.
Sources of help or advice
If you want to discuss your concerns or need advice – for example – if you’re not sure whether your concerns are justified, you would like more information about issues like confidentiality or you would like to know what happens next (after you have reported your concerns), contact one of the following:
• The NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Safeguarding Children Team (details above)
• Children’s Social Care in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough
• NSPCC National Helpline: 0808 800 5000
• Childline: 0800 11 11
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board website - Please note: this includes a translator tool which translates information into many different languages for parents/carers and for children and young people.
Local information
Local procedure as well as guidance and information on a number of topics relevant to safeguarding children is available from the Cambridgeshire LSCB and Peterborough LSCB websites.
Data Protection Act (2018)
Our responsibilities towards children are summarised in the statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2018) and Promoting the Health and Wellbeing of Looked After Children (2015). Consent and information is shared between Social Care and health and details of this can be found on the links below:
• Cambridgeshire
• Peterborough
The staff who have access to your information use it only as appropriate to their work and with strict regard to your privacy.
Guidance for GP practices
The NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Safeguarding Children team has developed an information resource pack for GP practices, including details about where to access training.