Everyone has the right to live a life free from harm and abuse. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and aims to protect people’s health, wellbeing and human rights, and enable them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. It can take many forms for example people can be financially, emotionally, sexually or physically abused among others.
Those most in need of protection include:
- Children and young people (a child is defined as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday)
- Adults at risk, such as those receiving care in their own home, people with physical, sensory and mental impairments, and those with learning disabilities.
It is the responsibility of every NHS-funded organisation, and each individual healthcare professional working in the NHS, to ensure that the principles and duties of safeguarding children and adults are holistically, consistently and conscientiously applied; the well-being of children and adults is at the heart of everything we do.
As commissioners of local health services, CCGs need to assure themselves that organisations from which they commission services have effective safeguarding arrangements in place.
As a statutory body, we have a clear line of accountability for safeguarding within Tees Valley CCG. Our Accountable Officer leads the organisation and the Executive Director of Nursing and Quality’s portfolio includes executive lead for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The team that we have to undertake this important work includes Designated Professionals for: Adult safeguarding, Child safeguarding, Looked after Children, Child deaths, and a Named GP, as well as other professionals who support.
As a CCG we ensure our designated experts (for children, children in care and adults), are embedded in the clinical decision-making of the organisation, as well as having the authority to work within local health economies and partnerships to influence local safeguarding practice.
Safeguarding is a shared responsibility, requiring effective joint working between agencies and professionals of different roles and expertise. As a CCG we are committed to working with key partners to improve the safety of children and their families and to safeguard vulnerable adults. Through partnership working we can identify risks, share information and collaborate to reduce the risk of harm to vulnerable people.
All CCG staff have a responsibility to take appropriate action when they know or suspect a child or adult may be a victim of abuse or neglect.
How to raise a safeguarding concern
If you feel someone is in immediate danger contact the police – call 999
If you think you or someone you know is being abused, or neglected you should report it. You can get support with this if you wish from someone you trust such as a friend, a teacher, a family member, a social worker, a doctor or other healthcare professional, or a police officer. If you are not sure what to do you can always seek advice first from the appropriate local authority who also operate an out of hour’s service.
Safeguarding children
If you have concerns for the welfare or safety of a child you should contact the children’s social care department in the area where the child lives:
| Children’s Services | Office hours | Out of hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington | 01325 406222 | 01642 524552 | childrensaccesspoint@darlington.gov.uk |
| Hartlepool | 01429 284284 | 01642 524552 | childrenshub@hartlepool.gov.uk |
| Middlesbrough | 01642 130700 | 01642 524552 | southteesmach@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk |
| Redcar & Cleveland | 01642 130700 | 01642 524552 | southteesmach@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk |
| Stockton-on-Tees | 01642 130080 | 01642 524552 | childrenshub@hartlepool.gov.uk |
For further information you can access the local safeguarding children partnership websites:
Darlington Safeguarding Partnership (Child)
Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees Safeguarding Children Partnership
South Tees Safeguarding Children Partnership
Tees Safeguarding Children Procedures
Safeguarding adults
If you have concerns for the welfare or safety of an adult you should contact the adult social care department in the area in which the adult is resident:
| Adult Services | Office hours | Out of hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington | 01325 406111 | 01642 524552 | ssact@darlington.gov.uk |
| Hartlepool | 01429 523390 | 01642 524552 | iSPA@hartlepool.gov.uk |
| Middlesbrough | 01642 065070 | 01642 524552 | adultaccessteam@middlesbrough.gov.uk |
| Redcar & Cleveland | 01642 065070 | 01642 524552 | AccessAdultsTeam@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk |
| Stockton on Tees | 01642 527764 | 01642 524552 | FirstContactAdults@stockton.gov.uk |
For further information you can access the local safeguarding adult board websites:
Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board
Darlington Safeguarding Partnership (Adult)
The CCG is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking, the CCG’s full statement is available here: