The Board of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is accountable for ensuring safeguarding of children whilst they are in the care of KCH and will liaise with other agencies and provide information to them, where necessary to safeguard children.
The Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Geraldine Walters, has board level responsibility for safeguarding children. The Safeguarding Children’s Team acts on her behalf to ensure that the board is assured that all necessary measures are taken to safeguard children.
Resources
The Trust has a dedicated safeguarding children’s team which has recently been expanded. It comprises a full time named nurse, 2 full time clinical nurse specialists, a named doctor and a full time named midwife together with administrative support.
Policies
Child protection policies and procedures are up to date and are accessible by all staff via the Trust intranet. In addition within children’s wards, the emergency department and the post-natal ward there is an information resource pack which contains a step by step guide on what to do in the event a safeguarding issue arises.
All policies will be annually reviewed to ensure up to date and appropriate content. This year, this exercise will be completed by end of November 2009.
Systems and processes
The Trust meets statutory requirement in relation to carrying out Criminal Records Bureau checks for new starters. We are also checking all existing staff who are involved in caring for children to ensure that every eligible member has had an enhanced check by April 2010. In addition all children seen in the Emergency department are reviewed for safeguarding issues by a multi-disciplinary team.
Training
Level 1 training in safeguarding children is a core component of corporate induction for all new starters. In December 2008 existing staff members were prioritised for level 1 refresh training and this is part of the rolling programme. A review of other training arrangements at levels 2 and 3 is underway and will take account of emerging national guidance on safeguarding arrangements.
Assurance
There is a bi-monthly safeguarding committee in place and in addition exception reports are provided to the Governance Committee (sub-committee of the board), with a full report to the Board of Directors on at least an annual basis. A programme of audits to ensure that process and systems are working is included in the annual safeguarding work plan which is reviewed by the safeguarding committee.
