Our Safeguarding Team 

Designated Safeguarding Lead GP for Children and Young People – Dr Katherine Duffield 

Designated Safeguarding Lead GP for Adults – Dr Amanda Humphreys 

Deputy Safeguarding Lead GP – Dr Catherine Armstrong 

Safeguarding Lead Nurse – Nurse Abbie Willows 

Safeguarding Clerk – Louise Clayton 

We are a Safe Practice – We help to keep our patients, their families and our staff safe. 

We take huge pride in and do our very best to ensure everyone is ‘safe’ whether you are receiving care as a patient, you are working here as part of our wonderful team or you are one of our partner agencies. 

Safeguarding 

We have robust Safeguarding Policies in place, supported by a dedicated team who meet regularly to discuss any safeguarding concerns. These meetings ensure that patient records are consistently updated with accurate and relevant information.

Every patient is allocated a named, responsible GP upon registration. This GP oversees your care and ensures continuity. However, patients are always welcome to see any member of our clinical team. We want you to feel comfortable and supported, so please feel free to book appointments with the clinician of your choice. (If you are unsure who your named GP is, just ask at reception.)

We are actively building positive working relationships with local schools and our Family Hub, recognising that “Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.” To protect our most vulnerable children and families, we collaborate closely with other organisations.

Our practice also works in partnership with local Nursing and Residential Homes, alongside a dedicated Frailty Team who provide specialist support to older adults in these settings.

More recently, we have begun working with the newly appointed Complex Care Team, who support some of our most vulnerable adults living in the community.

Safeguarding is a mandatory agenda item in all practice meetings. We also hold Whole Practice Safeguarding Meetings quarterly, with additional Safeguarding Team meetings in between to ensure regular discussion and timely updates to patient records.

We provide clear safeguarding guidance for both patients and staff:

  • A Safeguarding Board for patients outlines what to do if they are concerned about a child, young person, or adult.
  • A Safeguarding Information Board for staff supports internal awareness and action.

 

Are you worried? 

If you are worried about a child you can contact:

If you are worried about an adult you can contact:

 

Domestic Abuse 

We have stringent Domestic Abuse policies in place for both patients experiencing Domestic Abuse or being a perpetrator of Domestic Abuse; and for staff who are experiencing Domestic Abuse or being a perpetrator of Domestic Abuse. In the event that we become aware of an allegation or concern that a member of staff may be the perpetrator of domestic abuse, the practice will take the matter seriously and follow established procedures in line with our safeguarding, HR, and disciplinary policies.  

Significant Events 

We have quarterly meetings to discuss any “Significant Events” and also look at “Learning Opportunities” to ensure that we are constantly looking at how we can improve. 

Staffing and Recruitment 

We are adequately staffed and have a robust recruitment processes in place to ensure that all staff are DBS checked and have the skills and knowledge in place in order to keep our patients, staff and Partners safe. All staff have training opportunities offered on a personal basis based on yearly appraisals to allow them to maintain and develop further in their roles if they wish to do so. Staff hours are monitored and checked again through appraisal and the staff are given the opportunity to discuss their roles and anything that can be improved. 

Infection Control 

We have strong Infection Control protocols and perform regular audits to ensure that our premises are clean, safe and risk-free. Our premises are constantly monitored and maintained for being appropriate and safe for our users. External and internal inspections by our handyman take place regularly and he takes care of immediate and general issues with the management staff. The safety of our patients, staff, and partners is extremely important to us and we have upgraded our fire alarm system, the building is Security alarmed and monitored over night and we have installed external CCTV. Electrical, heating, water and Legionella checks are carried out by a qualified organisation. 

Health and Safety 

We have robust Health and Safety and Fire awareness procedures. We have a Health & Safety, and Fire Officer and a Deputy, and two Appointed First Aiders. The Health and Safety protocol is updated yearly by DCL Business Services Limited to make sure we are compliant with current regulations. We have weekly fire alarm checks and annual fire drills. 

We regularly monitor and assess all of our equipment to make sure all of it is safe and working effectively including the scales, BP monitors and all electrical equipment is PAT tested to ensure it is safe. 

Disabilities 

Attention is paid to the needs of disabled users; e.g. disabled parking bays, wheelchairs, handrails in the entrance and corridors, hearing loop, hydraulic examination couches, high backed and elevated chairs in reception, bariatric chairs and scales for larger patients. We have two disabled access toilets. We have recently added a Calm Corner to our Reception Area for those patients who need to be in a quieter and less busy area. 

Cater for all 

We also cater for younger members of families by having baby change facilities and we welcome mothers breastfeeding here at the practice. 

Emergencies  

We have plans in place to ensure service delivery even in adverse weather, major incidents, and seasonal demand variations. 

Training  

All staff are trained in Safeguarding, Health & Safety, consent and confidentiality and information governance. 

Register “Safe Surgery”  

We are also proud to be registered as a “Safe Surgery”. This means we have committed to taking steps to tackle the barriers faced by many migrants in accessing healthcare. We have declared that our practice is a ‘Safe Surgery’ for everyone and we have ensured that that lack of ID or proof of address, immigration status or language are not barriers to patients registering with us here at Birchwood Medical Practice. 

As a “Safe Surgery” we recognise the barriers individuals may experience when trying to access healthcare, particularly migrants in vulnerable circumstances, and believe that small changes can make a difference. We continue to try and lead by example and work to ensure that nobody in our community is excluded.