Safeguarding

Everyone deserves to feel safe. If you or someone you know is at risk, support is available—both locally and through Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

If you need help, you can find advice and support quickly and discreetly using the links below.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHT) has always been committed to working to safeguard its patients. We have five hospital sites, and all sites see children and adults on a planned and ad-hoc basis. Our patients range from pre-birth maternity services to end of life, elderly care and everything in-between. Whilst our sites sit in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham boroughs we see many people from various boroughs across the United Kingdom as well as from abroad. 

What is safeguarding? 

Safeguarding means protecting people’s fundamental rights to live a life free from harm, exploitation and neglect. The Trust’s vision is to uphold these rights through safeguarding activities that promote the welfare of adults, children and young people throughout the Trust. 

There are various types of abuse for adults and children which includes physical, sexual, emotional, abuse and neglect as well as coercion and control. Sometimes the abuse is from family members, friends, neighbours and people pretending to be friends.  

What does the safeguarding team do?

We have a safeguarding team that supports the hospital staff to protect patients. The safeguarding team covers six domains, children, maternity, adults, domestic abuse and modern slavery exploitation.

As an NHS Trust, we are committed to safeguarding. We:

✔️ Train our staff to recognise and respond to concerns 
✔️ facilitate safeguarding supervision for staff to empower them and think the unthinkable
✔️ Have dedicated safeguarding leads for adults, maternity and children
✔️ Work closely with local partner agencies like police and social care 
📌 Our safeguarding commitment

As required by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), we have made a declaration on safeguarding children and young people. View it here.

 

Concerned about an adult? 

If you are concerned about any adult call 999 for police in any emergency and 101 for other situations (non-urgent). You can also contact adult social care in the borough the person lives in. They will signpost to agencies that assist if the person does not come under their remit e.g. having care and support needs. If they are connected to professionals in anyway e.g. general practitioner, support worker, day centre professionals, carers, hospital nurses/doctors talk to them to say you are concerned. Types of abuse are:

  • Physical
  • Sexual
  • Financial
  • Discriminatory 
  • Hate crimes
  • Emotional 
  • Modern slavery exploitation
  • Domestic abuse
  • Neglect
  • Organisational abuse
  • Self-neglect 
  • Radicalisation 

Find advice and local support
Home - Safeguarding Adults Executive Board
Safeguarding adults | Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Homepage | Hammersmith & Fulham Safeguarding Adults Board

Concerned about a child? 

If you are concerned about any child/ren call 999 for police in any emergency and 101 for other situations (non-urgent).

You can also contact children social care in the borough the person lives in. If the child/ren are connected to professionals in anyway e.g. general practitioner, support worker, teachers, nursery workers, carers, hospital nurses/doctors talk to them to say you are concerned. Types of abuse are grouped in these areas:

  • Physical
  • Neglect
  • Sexual
  • Emotional 

There are many concerns for children ranging bullying to serious youth violence and exploitation. Support is available. 
Find advice and local support or call:
📞 NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
📞 Childline (for children): 0800 1111

Childline | NSPCC
Childline | Childline
Worried about a child? | London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Young People - Hammersmith and Fulham's LSCP
Local Safeguarding Children Partnership Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster | Westminster City Council

Concerned about yourself?

Experiencing domestic abuse? 
Domestic abuse affects all types of people and is more than just physical violence to someone (including sexual violence) it can also be types of emotional abuse (including gas-lighting) and coercive control. Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviour on the part of the abuser designed to control his partner. It can happen at any point in a relationship, including after you have split up. It has dire effects for all in the family including children. 

If you are concerned call 999 for police in any emergency and 101 for other situations (non-urgent).

If you suspect you are a perpetrator e.g. your partner shows they are scare of you or you have jealous rages there is also help for you too Charity to Help Domestic Abuse Perpetrators | Respect Phoneline UK

Find help safely 
Your local area will have local support – google domestic abuse services in your area – remember to clear any search history if need be. There are often support groups tailored for certain groups of people e.g. different nationalities etc. 

Homepage - National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Galop - the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity
Home - Women's Aid
ManKind Initiative - Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse 

Stalking

Stalking is a pattern of behaviour directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress. Stalking is illegal and can include being followed or constantly harassed by another person - for example being sent unwanted emails, unwanted contact including phone calls, texts, and contact via social media, unwanted gifts, showing up/approaching an individual or their family/friends, monitoring, surveillance, property damage, and threats etc.

Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger

Find help safely 
Paladin – National Stalking Advocacy Service
Suzy Lamplugh Trust

Modern slavery exploitation (MSE)

MSE is the umbrella term for forced labour, people smuggling/trafficking, domestic servitude, sex exploitation, (adult and child), debt bondage, county lines, organ harvesting, forced labour, criminal exploitation and child marriages (which can also be a harmful practice).   It is illegal. Often people do not have their passports and have paid (or their family) have paid large amount of money to people to be in the UK, are forced to do criminal activities, do not have their own place to sleep, not paid any wages etc. 

Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger

Talk to people you trust if you suspect you are a modern slave. Talk with the police who can assist. If you are over 18 years old contact adult social care in your borough and under 18 contact children social care in your borough.

Find help safely 
Modern slavery - GOV.UK
Modern Slavery Helpline

Radicalisation

Radicalisation is the process through which a person comes to support or be involved in extremist ideologies. It is in itself a form of harm. Extremism is defined as the support or promotion of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance. The process of radicalisation may involve: 
• being groomed online or in person 
• exploitation, including sexual exploitation
• psychological manipulation
• exposure to violent material and other inappropriate information
• the risk of physical harm or death through extremist acts.

It happens gradually so often people are unaware it is happening. 
 
Find help safely 
Get help for radicalisation concerns - GOV.UK
Radicalisation and child protection | NSPCC Learning
ACT Early | Prevent radicalisation

Wellbeing 

Mental wellbeing doesn't have one set meaning. We might use it to talk about how we feel, how well we're coping with daily life or what feels possible at the moment.
Good mental wellbeing doesn't mean that you're always happy. Or that you're unaffected by your experiences. And having good wellbeing doesn't always mean that you don't have a mental health problem. You may live with a mental health problem but have good wellbeing right now. Or you might not have a mental health problem but be struggling with your wellbeing at the moment. Poor mental wellbeing can make it more difficult to cope with daily life. Support is available from your general practitioner and in schools. Support can also be found as below:

Wellbeing Hub | Westminster City Council
Home - Kooth
Contact Us | Samaritans
NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression - NHS

Home - Mind

 

 

 

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