NHS- Safeguarding Accountability and Assurance Framework- Whitepaper
Healthcare professionals must ensure they are aware of and up-to-date with any changes in guidance and legislation given that our National Health Service (NHS) is entrusted with providing the population of the UK with a complete service of care, ensuring the maintenance of their health and wellbeing. For those who may be new to the profession, or wanting to reflect on the updates, we will discuss the framework and changes below.
The Safeguarding Accountablity and Assurance Framework
The NHS has a set of frameworks and procedures to ensure that those at risk, such as children, young people and vulnerable adults, receive the appropriate care and are protected from those who may wish to harm them. The NHS regularly reviews and updates these policies and frameworks to ensure that it is up-to-date and clear about the roles that those within the NHS play in protecting people at risk. The most recent review and update to their policy was made at the end of June 2024 and this white paper will summarise the changes, what it means, and what and who it may affect.
What is a safeguarding framework?
A safeguarding framework is a tool that aims to assist practitioners and their organisation with a common understanding of indicators of abuse. This helps professionals to identify abuse types and what interventions may then be required.
NHS Safeguarding Framework overview-
2023 seen a variety of significant changes across the healthcare system with the imbedding of integrated care systems, integrated care partnerships, provider collaboratives, primary care networks, and local maternity and neonatal systems, and new legislation which then impacts on how healthcare professionals safeguard people and populations.
In June of 2024 the NHS released updated safeguarding guidance. Within the update it covered changes that will be made including the implementation of the Children’s Social Care Reforms and the Working together to safeguard children 2023 revised legislation for multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. They also aim to focus on local level support and professional practice.
What does this mean for safeguarding?
The implementation of the Working Together to Safeguard children 2023 guidance will ensure that those responsible for the care of children, and vulnerable adults will work alongside and with others to ensure that they receive the best care and involve the other agencies when or if they find signs of abuse or neglect. This is to ensure that each agency understands what the situation is and can have a clear understanding of how they can work together to make sure that that person is safe and protected from a dangerous situation. In a previous white paper we have covered the importance of this legislation and why it was a needed change within the safeguarding realm.
The Children’s Social Care Reforms has put in place a set of initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality and effectiveness of services provided to at risk children and families. It focuses on strengthening support for those families at risk, improving child protection, and streamlining adoption and fostering processes. The implementation of this reform is an important step in streamlining the processes the NHS already have in place to protect the children within their care.
The newer focus on the local level support is to determine the specific roles those in local authorities and professional practices have to play in the protection of adults at risk. It is in place to show their precise duties including making enquiries to identify whether an adult in their area is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect to determine what actions should be taken and by who. It also includes the specific duties that NHS bodies have to co-operate with the local authorities in their enquiries, to protect adults at risk.
The three new focuses will ensure that those working within the NHS understand the importance of working alongside other agencies to protect children and adults at risk and what their roles are individually when in a situation where there is cause for concern of neglect or abuse.
Main aims for Safeguarding:
Not only is the new NHS Safeguarding framework focusing on incorporating these updated reforms and legislation, but it has a list of its other aims to ensure the protection of children and adults at risk. The main aims are to:
Identify and clarify how the relationship between health and other systems work to safeguard children and adults at risk.
Clearly set out the legal framework for safeguarding children and adults. To support them in their statutory duties to safeguard them.
Outline expectations, principles and ways of working that recognise safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Outline the way NHS England Regional and National teams support integrated care boards accountability at local level.
Identify clear processes to use to support evidence-based practice and provide assurance at all levels.
Promote equality by ensuring the health inequalities are addressed and at the heart of the NHS values.
Outlining the incorporation of legislations such as the ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023’ will ensure that those in a position of care know the importance of working alongside other organisations such as the police or other care agencies to ensure that serious enquiries are made should there be suspicion or evidence of abuse or neglect. It also is in place to make sure that clear communication between such agencies and organisations should be had to ensure that nothing is missed that could inflict further harm onto the child or adult at risk.
The framework showcases the need for accuracy and working together to safeguard those at risk from abuse or neglect.
If you have any questions or need any help or advice, please get in touch. Our team offers full support and training and can advise and train employers and employees on safeguarding for children and adults. Please find a list of helpful links below.
Working Together to Safeguard Children Legislation
Children’s Social Care Reforms
Our training courses are always delivered in line with the most recent and up-to-date guidance with over 20 years of healthcare, NHS and safeguarding experience.