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Safeguarding Adults and Children
Our policy
At St Fillans Medical Centre, the safety and wellbeing of our patients is extremely important to us.
Safeguarding means protecting children, young people and adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or harm.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. If you are worried about yourself or somebody else, you do not need to be certain that abuse is taking place before asking for help or raising a concern.
Our safeguarding responsibilities
All members of our practice team receive appropriate safeguarding training and are expected to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns.
The practice has designated Safeguarding Leads who provide advice and support to our team and help ensure that concerns are dealt with appropriately. The practice safeguarding lead is Dr Laura Farrington and the deputy lead is Dr Pravin Gorajala.
Where we are concerned that a child or adult may be at risk, we may need to work with other organisations, including health professionals, social care and the police, to help keep them safe.
What is abuse?
Abuse can happen to anyone and can take many different forms. It may include:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional or psychological abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Domestic abuse
- Neglect or self-neglect
- Financial or material abuse
- Discrimination
- Exploitation
- Modern slavery
- Controlling or coercive behaviour
Abuse is not always obvious, and the person experiencing it may find it difficult to tell somebody what is happening.
Confidentiality and safeguarding
We take patient confidentiality very seriously.
There are, however, circumstances where information may need to be shared with other professionals to protect a child or an adult who may be at risk of serious harm.
Wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so, we will discuss this with you. However, there may be occasions when information needs to be shared without consent.
We will only share information that is relevant and necessary and will handle it in accordance with our legal and professional responsibilities.
Worried about a child?
If you are worried that a child or young person may be experiencing abuse or neglect, please tell someone.
You can:
- Contact St Fillans Medical Centre and ask to speak to a clinician.
- Contact Lancashire Children's Services. Lancashire County Council provides an online service to report concerns and request a call back
- For an urgent concern outside normal office hours, contact Lancashire County Council's Emergency Duty Team on 0300 123 6722.
- Contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice if you are worried about a child.
- Children and young people can contact Childline free on 0800 1111.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
Worried about an adult?
If you are concerned that an adult with care and support needs is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, you can speak to a member of our practice team.
You can also report an adult safeguarding concern directly to Lancashire County Council Adult Social Care:
- Telephone: 0300 123 6720
- An online safeguarding referral form is also available through Lancashire County Council
- For urgent concerns outside normal opening hours, contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 123 6722.
- If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone. It does not have to involve physical violence and can include emotional, psychological, sexual or financial abuse, threats, intimidation and controlling or coercive behaviour.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you can talk to us in confidence. Please contact the practice and ask to speak to a doctor, nurse or another member of our clinical team.
You can also contact:
- Domestic Abuse Support Service Lancashire (DASSL). Telephone: 0300 3033 581. Free support is available to people experiencing domestic abuse across Lancashire.
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline – Refuge. Telephone: 0808 2000 247. Free and confidential support, 24 hours a day.
- Men's Advice Line. Telephone: 0808 801 0327
If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
If you cannot speak when calling 999 from a mobile, listen to the operator's instructions. If prompted, press 55 to be transferred to the police.
If you tell us about a safeguarding concern
We understand that talking about abuse, neglect or concerns about someone's safety can be difficult.
We will:
- Listen to you and take your concerns seriously
- Treat you with dignity and respect
- Consider what action is needed to keep you or somebody else safe
- Explain what we need to do wherever it is appropriate and safe to do so
- Work with other safeguarding professionals when necessary
You will not be judged for asking for help.
In an emergency
If you or somebody else is in immediate danger, call 999.
If there is no immediate danger but you are worried about yourself, a child or another adult, please contact the practice or one of the safeguarding services above.
It is always better to share a concern than to ignore it.