Safeguarding Support Worker Bedford
Job description
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated, enthusiastic person with to join our integrated Safeguarding Team, working full time within the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The integrated Safeguarding team is made up of professionals working to safeguard individuals and includes adults, maternity and paediatrics. The post holder will support the team and the safeguarding agenda within BHNT, including promoting the Think Family principles and will contribute to the improvement of safeguarding systems and processes. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who wants to develop their skills and competencies in safeguarding working in a busy Trust that covers both acute and community services. The post holder will provide support to the Safeguarding Team in the management of Safeguarding enquiries alongside general administration tasks required for the daily management of safeguarding activity within the trust. To assist in the management of Safeguarding enquiries and to support members of staff with the investigation of concerns raised via the safeguarding supervisory board, providing guidance as required. This includes areas such as collating information, supporting with the Child Death Overview Process (CDOP), completing the information requests, supporting the team by ensuring professionals, relatives and patients access the right support from the correct member of the team etc. To draft safeguarding information for enquiry reports/ information requests and to action follow-up to formal responses to ensure statutory time limits are met. Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available. Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job Act as the focal reception point for safeguarding enquiries received by the Local Authority in line with the Guidance, policies and local Safeguarding process. To support Safeguarding enquires within the acute hospital, ensuring that correspondence is handled efficiently, enquiries are completed and shared appropriately and within a strict timeframe. Populate and distribute safeguarding investigation templates as needed. Contact referrers by telephone/email to discuss correspondence and agree actions for resolution where appropriate. To collate statements, ensuring that they address the issues raised, and formulate a written report to be authorised by the Safeguarding Leads. Ensure that information collated for enquiry reports are of the highest quality and translate complex medical terminology and principles into clear explanations, adapting tone and language as appropriate to the recipient. Support divisional staff with regards to appropriate formats and templates etc. required for responding to a safeguarding enquiry/concern. Cross reference between statements, clinical correspondence, medical records and other sources of intelligence to ensure accurate and complete responses to safeguarding queries. Ensure that all the relevant information is contained within the response to fully address the complainant’s questions. Ensure that safeguarding information adheres to best practice guidance in terms of candour, clear decision as to outcome of investigation and reference to further action to be taken by the Division. Liaise with patients, relatives and members of the Multidisciplinary Team to organise the various meetings to discuss safeguarding concerns when appropriate. Attend meetings to provide administrative support, taking notes when required. Maintain accurate records on internal reporting systems Safeguarding database at all times and ensure that all written evidence is submitted and filed appropriately. Monitor and escalate risks to meeting response times on an individual case basis. Ensure the Safeguarding Leads are aware of any member of directorate staff that are at risk of potentially or actually missing a deadline. Ensure that safeguarding concerns that fall under ‘Never Event’ or ‘Serious Incident’ criteria are escalated to the Safeguarding Leads. To support the Safeguarding Leads to find new and improved ways, of working to increase effectiveness and build good working relationships across the division and Trust. To escalate any concerns identified within the role and caseload to a senior member of staff or the Safeguarding Leads. Support with general administration within the Safeguarding team which can include (but not exclusive to) tasks such as answering telephone calls, taking messages, arranging meetings, photocopying, managing internal referrals, inputting data into the safeguarding databases, supporting with the Child Death Overview Process (CDOP) and taking minutes.
