Practice Safeguarding Children and Young People Statement
Gold Street Surgery has a statutory duty of care towards children (Section 11 Children Act 2004) and young people at risk. We are committed to a best practice which safeguards children and young people irrespective of their background, and which recognises that a child may be abused regardless of their age, gender, religious beliefs, racial origin or ethnic identity, culture class, disability or sexual orientation.
Having safeguards in place within any organisation not only protects and promotes the welfare of children and young people at risk, but also enhances the confidence of staff, volunteers, parents/carers and the general public. Protecting children and young people from abuse and neglect, and exploitation, preventing impairment of health and development, and ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care enables them to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully.
Gold Street Surgery is committed to safeguarding children and young people at risk and has a responsibility to ensure that practice staff know what to do if they encounter child or adult abuse or have concerns that they may be at risk of harm.
The practice is committed to working within agreed policies and procedures and in partnership with other agencies to ensure that the risk of harm to a child or young person is minimised. This work may include direct and indirect contact with children, (access to patient’s details, communication via email, text message/phone). This partnership also includes sharing information with partner agencies and services to ensure the best interests of the child are protected. While we would wish to do this with the consent of parents and/or carers wherever possible, there may be circumstances where information may need to be shared without consent.