Welcome to the NHSGGC Public Protection Service Webpage.
We aim to raise awareness and inform on Public Protection issues both within NHSGGC and the wider community. The service is available to all staff groups within NHSGGC to offer training, support and advice on any issues relating to Public Protection. Within our service there is a dedicated team of specialist staff with knowledge and expertise.
The Public Protection Service can be contacted Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm 0141 451 6605
Additionally, there is a dedicated advice line for all Child Protection concerns or issues which can be accessed by choosing option 1.
A Child Protection Consultant is available Out of Hours – via switchboard 0141 201 0000. Ask for On Call Child Protection Consultant.
If you have a child protection concern that is identified out of hours social work can be contacted on their Out Of Hours service that covers the West of Scotland: 0800 343 1505
If you are concerned that a child is at immediate risk please contact the police on 999 or 101
Child Support and Protection
What is Child Abuse/Neglect?
Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting , or by failing to act to prevent significant harm to the child. Children may be abused in a family or in an institution setting, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. Assessments will need to consider whether abuse has occurred or is likely to occur. When placing a child on the Child protection register, it is no longer necessary to identify a category of registration relating to the primary type of abuse and neglect. Instead the local authority should ensure the child’s name and details are entered on the register, as well as area of concern identified.
It is still helpful to consider and understand the different ways in which children can be abused. The following definitions, though not exhaustive show some ways in which abuse may be experienced by a child. Individual circumstances of abuse will vary from child to child.
Significant Harm
Protecting children involves preventing harm or the risk of harm. Harm refers to ill-treatment or the impairment of the health or development of the child. Significant harm is the test for legal measures to be taken in order to protect children. There is no legal definition of significant harm. It is a matter for professional judgement through analysis and multi agency assessment of the degree of harm a child has or is likely to be exposed too. This can be exposure to one traumatic event or an accumulation of concerns which can impact on the child’s wellbeing and development.
Physical abuse
This is the causing of physical harm to a child or young person. Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes, ill health to a child they are looking after.
Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse is persistent emotional neglect or ill treatment that has severe and persistent adverse effects on a child’s emotional development. It can involve actions or inactions which can lead to feelings of inadequacy or fear. The child may feel devalued or unloved. It can involve placing expectation on a child which are inappropriate to their stage of development. Some level of emotional abuse can be present in all types of ill treatment or it can occur independently of other forms of abuse.
Sexual abuse
The act of sexual abuse involves the child in any activity for the gratification of another person, whether or not it is claimed that the child has consented. Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activity may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts. It may also include non-contact activities such as sharing images of sexual activity with a child or the production of indecent images involving a child or using sexual language towards a child or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or failure to respond to, a child’s basic emotional needs. Neglect may also result in the child being diagnosed as suffering from non-organic failure to thrive, where they have significantly failed to reach normal weight and growth or development milestones and where physical and genetic reasons have been medically eliminated.
In its extreme form children can be at serious risk from the effects of malnutrition, lack of nurturing and stimulation. This can lead to serious long-term effects such as greater susceptibility to serious childhood illnesses and reduction in potential stature. With young children in particular, the consequences may be life-threatening within a relatively short period of time.
Adult Support and Protection
If you are aware of an adult being exposed to harm or is at risk of harm and they are unable to safeguard themselves then an Adult Support and Protection referral should be completed.
This can be done by completing an AP1 form, contacting the relevant local authority ASP team by phone, and completing a DATIX.
If you require Social work advice out of ours please call 0300 343 1505
If the adult is at immediate risk contact Police Scotland 101 or in the event of an emergency 999.
Notification of Concern Form
All NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde staff must follow the guidance for raising and submitting a Notification of Concern. The contact details for the relevant local authorities are contained within the guidance.
A Seven Minute Briefing
Policies and Guidelines
Training
Tutor Lead Training Online Training – Learn Pro
Mandatory LearnPro modules
Please register LearnPro account to enable you to complete your chosen training
https://nhs.learnprouk.com
LearnPro Modules for Child Protection
LearnPro Modules for Adult Support Protection
Other Relevant Organisations
For more information please visit the relevant organisations websites.