Introduction
Clinical Commissioning Groups are statutory NHS bodies with a range of duties including safeguarding adults and children. As a membership organisation, Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) brings together GP practices in Northumberland to commission services for all those registered with them. As commissioner of local health services, Northumberland CCG needs to assure itself that the service providers have effective safeguarding arrangements in place. The CCG has a duty to support GP practices in their safeguarding duties.
Key contacts
The Assurance & Accountability Framework (NHSE 2015) require all CCG’s to secure the expertise of designated professionals for safeguarding children, Looked After Children, Child Death Overview Process and adult safeguarding including Mental Capacity Act. All of these professionals are in post in Northumberland and have a key role in providing expert support and advice in all these issues. Northumberland CCG employs a Named GP safeguarding children who has a key role in support, advice and training provision. All of these professionals can be contacted for advice and / or support on any safeguarding matter (please see contact list). If unsure, the designated nurse should be the first point of contact, she will direct the caller to the most appropriate professional.
Northumberland CCG Contact numbers:
Margaret Tench | Designated Nurse Safeguarding Children and interim Looked After Children | 01670 335164 07881811759 | mtench@nhs.net |
Dr Naomi Jones | Designated Doctor Safeguarding Children | 01670 564042 | naomi.jones@nhct.nhs.uk |
Dr Riaan Swanepoel | Named GP Safeguarding Children | 01670 335160 | riaanswanepoel@nhs.net |
Dr Stephen Bruce | Designated Doctor Child Deaths | 0344 8118111 | Stephen.bruce@nhct.net |
Dr Anna Redfearn | Designated Doctor Looked After Children | 01670 396467 | Anna.redfearn@nhct.nhs.uk |
Fiona Kane | Designated Safeguarding Adults Manager | 01670 335190 | Fiona.kane@nhs.net |
Each GP practice has a nominated lead for safeguarding children and adults. Northumberland CCG is committed to supporting these leads in their role and is developing a network initially for child safeguarding leads led by the designated doctor, nurse and Named GP. This network will provide peer support and development in order to fulfil their roles competently.
Training
Training for all primary care staff is mandatory.
Children: Single agency safeguarding children training is provided by the Named GP and designated nurse. Dates will be agreed and circulated to all practices. Multi-agency courses and e-learning is also available via the Northumberland Safeguarding Children Board (NSCB) web site
Adults: Bespoke adult safeguarding training is available via the Learning & Development Unit. To arrange this, please contact:
Leigh Waller, 01670 629041 – leigh.waller@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk
Local Safeguarding Boards
Multi-agency working is essential when safeguarding vulnerable people. In order to ensure this happens, safeguarding boards are in place for both adults and children within Northumberland. These boards are represented at a senior level by all agencies to ensure compliance with legislation. Each board has a web site which contains useful information, relevant documents, contact numbers as well as the learning from local and national case review:
