Safeguarding
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust takes seriously its responsibilities to ensure that there are processes in place within the organisation to protect children and young people and adults at risk from abuse and harm.
Our Trust has policies in place that give all staff clear guidance on how to respond if they have concerns. All staff are expected to attend training commensurate with their role.
Through the Safeguarding Adult and Safeguarding Children’s Partnership Boards, we work closely with the main statutory agencies - local authorities, the police and other NHS organisations - to promote safer communities to prevent harm and abuse and also to deal with suspected or actual cases.
Adult safeguarding
Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity, respect and live a life free from fear.
Some adults are at greater risk of being abused because they rely on another person to manage day to day living.
Please click the link below for our declaration of safeguarding adults arrangements: Adult Safeguarding declaration (pdf 89KB)
You can visit the websites of our local safeguarding adults boards to learn more:
- Lewisham Safeguarding Adults Board
- Greenwich Safeguarding Adults Board
- Bexley Safeguarding Adults Board
If you have any questions or concerns about our safeguarding procedures please email us: LH.adultsafeguarding@nhs.net.
Safeguarding children
Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility and all health organisations have a duty under the Children Act 2004 to make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. National guidance highlights the need to improve outcomes for all children.
Our team is made up of lots of different healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses and midwives who are specially trained in safeguarding. We also have a Designated Nurse for Looked After Children, a medical advisor for adoption and fostering and safeguarding advisors and administrators.
We work closely the Designated Doctor and Nurse for Safeguarding and Looked After Children and Designated Doctor for Child Death in each of the local boroughs.
What we do
The team covers a range of activities across the Trust to support staff meet their safeguarding children responsibilities. We work with multi-agency partners to promote the welfare of children and ensure timely information sharing and risk assessment occurs.
We provide:
- Regular supervision, support and advice on safeguarding children issues to ensure early help and prevention of abuse
- Safeguarding training to all staff
- Reflective learning forums for staff
- Medical assessments for children when suspected abuse has occurred
- Trust representation at local Safeguarding Children Board (SCB) meetings and task groups
- Assurance to the Trust Board, commissioners and SCBs about Safeguarding activity within LGT
- Contribution to Serious Case Reviews or multiagency reviews
- A liaison service on the Lewisham site to act as an information sharing link between hospital and community staff.
- A looked after children service including medical and health reports.
- Support for staff in writing reports for court and legal requests
Declaration
Safeguarding Children Declaration
Contact
Safeguarding Children Advice Line (SCAL): 07867 843532
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
For out of hours safeguarding advice, please speak to the hospital paediatricians by contacting the switchboard on the numbers below:
- University Hospital Lewisham 020 3300 3000
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital 020 8836 6000
Young person's guide to working together to safeguard children >>
Locations
Kaleidoscope, Lewisham Centre for Children and Young People, 32 Rushey Green, London SE6 4JF
University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham High Street, Lewisham, SE13 6LH
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Stadium Road, Woolwich, SE18 4QH
Local safeguarding children boards
You can visit the websites of our local safeguarding children boards to learn more: