Practice or organisational safeguarding lead

Annually: Safeguarding update

This can include:

• Relevant local safeguarding courses/updates provided by safeguarding boards/partnerships, primary care safeguarding teams such as Named GPs/Nurses, ICBs, health authorities/boards
• Relevant safeguarding updates/courses provided by national bodies

Annually: Safeguarding forums

• Demonstrate regular attendance at local practice safeguarding lead forums (if available in the locality)

Annually: Reflection and learning

Should include:

• Demonstrate an example of reflection / learning aligned with the practice/organisational role specific knowledge and capabilities
• Can include case review, significant event analysis, supporting a colleague with a safeguarding case, provision of advice and guidance to a colleague, liaison with external safeguarding professionals about a case, learning from practice safeguarding lead forums, implementation of a change in practice regarding a safeguarding issue

Person specifics

• Should be a clinician within the practice/organisation (as the structure of primary care evolves, so will the role of a practice safeguarding lead e.g. PCN safeguarding lead)
• Should have at least 3 years’ experience (post qualifying) working as a clinician in a role which requires RCGP Level 3 safeguarding training
• Should have the appropriate authority to be able to affect change within the practice/organisation, including reviewing any significant events and implementing change, challenging poor safeguarding practice
• Should have protected time to carry out their safeguarding role including time to attend local practice safeguarding lead forums and time for any additional training required
• Should have support within the practice
• Should have a peer support group / be part of a community of practice to support the calibration of their decision-making and their own wellbeing

Role-specific knowledge and capabilities

These are in addition to Level 3 knowledge, skills and capabilities.

Knowledge

• Awareness of best practice in safeguarding legislation, information sharing, information governance, confidentiality and consent including guidance from professional bodies
• Understand own organisational structures/arrangement to be able to challenge and advocate within policies, procedures and practice for safeguarding
• Awareness of local safeguarding procedures, including escalation processes

Capabilities

• Support safeguarding activity within the practice/organisation including reflective practice
• Show safeguarding leadership in embedding safeguarding practice and ethos
• Provide some safeguarding training within the practice/organisation
• Act as a point of reference within the practice/organisation to provide advice and guidance regarding safeguarding issues for staff
• Work closely with the practice/organisational Caldicott Guardian when there are difficult or complex issues regarding information sharing
• Be able to implement and oversee (as relevant to role) system changes that are needed in light of any learning from significant safeguarding events or reviews
• Ensure that local safeguarding professional contacts and referral pathways are up-to-date, visible and easily accessible within the practice for all staff, including locums, temporary staff, students and volunteers
• Ensure practice/organisation safeguarding policies and procedures are in place and up to date
• Lead/oversee safeguarding quality assurance and improvement processes, such as audits, review of safeguarding practice, case discussion and reflection
• Be able to contribute to multi-agency audits, statutory inspections and reviews
• Work closely with the practice manager to champion good practice in safeguarding throughout the practice/organisation as well challenging poor safeguarding practice