Safeguarding
East Kent Hospitals University Foundation NHS Trust provides services to diverse community of people living in East Kent. Safeguarding children, young people and adults is a statutory duty and staff are expected to be able to recognise and respond appropriately when a child, young person or adult may need support. In order to support staff to do this, the Trust has named professionals for safeguarding children, adults and maternity services to promote a culture of safeguarding across the trust, incorporating a ‘Think Family’ approach. There are robust policies in place for staff to follow if they have any safeguarding concerns.
The Trust works in partnership with a range of statutory, health and voluntary agencies, including the local authority, police, education and the wider health economy to help prevent harm by reducing abuse or neglect and promote the health and well-being of all children, young people and adults.
The Trust also works in partnership with Kent Safeguarding Children’s Multi-agency Partnership (KSCMP) and Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adult Board (KMSAB) to ensure effective arrangements are in place to safeguard children, young people and adults.
The Trust advocates the six principles of safeguarding which are:
Empowerment - Supporting people to make their own decisions. To listen to their wishes and feelings and promote independence
Prevention - To support children, young people and adults at the earliest opportunity, to ensure the right support at the right time and to take action before harm occurs
Proportionate - To advocate the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented
Protect - To protect children, young people and adults from harm and support East Kent Hospitals University Foundation NHS Trust staff will work together with partners to reduce the presenting risks
Partnership - Working in partnership with local services and contributing to local policy development and to take part in preventing, detecting and reporting abuse and neglect
Accountability - Transparency in safeguarding practice and promoting a learning environment
If you think someone is in immediate danger, call 999 for the emergency services.
Worried about a young person under the age of 18 in Kent?
Contact Social Services via telephone on 03000 411111
Report concerns online on the Kent Safeguarding Children website
Worried about an adult in Kent?
Contact Social Services via telephone 03000 416161
Report concerns online on the Kent County Council website
Out of hours for both children and adults in Kent and Medway
Contact: 03000 416161
If you think someone is in immediate danger, call 999 for the emergency services.
Information Leaflets
Visit our Patient Information Library for our range of Safeguarding Information Leaflets