Preparing the Pharmacy

Safeguarding is not only about how individual staff respond in the moment. It also depends on whether the pharmacy is set up to notice concerns, support private conversations, and help staff act quickly when something feels wrong. A well-prepared pharmacy makes safeguarding easier to do well. It reduces hesitation, gives staff confidence, and helps make sure concerns do not get lost in a busy working day.^[2]

For non-clinical pharmacy workers, preparation matters because many safeguarding opportunities are brief. A disclosure may happen at the medicines counter, while answering the phone, during a delivery, or in a rushed interaction with a worried carer. If the team already knows the safeguarding lead, local escalation routes, emergency contacts, and how to create privacy where possible, the response is likely to be safer and more consistent.^[6]

What Good Preparation Looks Like

Practical arrangements do not need to be complicated, but they do need to be clear. Helpful basics include:^{[1][2] [9]}

• up-to-date safeguarding policies and local contact details that staff can find quickly^[3]
• identify and communicate a named safeguarding lead to all staff^[1]
• provide regular training and refreshers so people know their role and escalation routes^[2]
• plan safe ways to offer a brief private conversation when appropriate^[5]
• clear plans for lone working, deliveries, and reporting concerns about colleagues^[8][9]

A safer pharmacy is one where staff know exactly how to raise a concern and feel supported to do it without delay.

Culture Matters Too

Policies alone are not enough. Staff also need a culture where safeguarding is taken seriously. That means concerns are listened to, not dismissed, and people are encouraged to speak up if a colleague's behaviour, boundaries, or conduct is worrying. Safer recruitment, supervision, and clear professional boundaries all help protect children and adults at risk before problems develop.^[9]

In practice, preparation may be as simple as making sure contact numbers are current, private spaces are considered, and delivery staff know what to do if a home visit raises concern. Small organisational details make a big difference. When the environment is prepared, staff can focus less on uncertainty and more on protecting people well.^[3]

References (numbered in text) Why we include references

1. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health; Royal College of Nursing. Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competencies for Healthcare Staff. Intercollegiate Document, Fourth edition, January 2019. Find (opens in a new tab)
2. Royal College of Nursing. Adult Safeguarding: Roles and Competencies for Health Care Staff. Intercollegiate Document, First edition August 2018 (updated guidance and resources published subsequently). Find (opens in a new tab)
3. Department of Health and Social Care. Care and Support Statutory Guidance (Care Act 2014). GOV.UK. (Web) Find (opens in a new tab)
4. HM Government. Working Together to Safeguard Children: Statutory guidance (updated 2023). Find (opens in a new tab)
5. NHS England. Approved particulars – premises: community pharmacy consultation room and privacy requirements. NHS England guidance (community pharmacy premises standards). Find (opens in a new tab)
6. Solomon J., Barcelos A.M., Latham-Green T., et al. Lifeguard Pharmacy: the co-development of a community pharmacy response service for people in danger from domestic abuse or suicidal ideation. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice. 2024;32(6):452–(article). Find (opens in a new tab)
7. Disclosure and Barring Service. DBS checks: guidance for employers. GOV.UK. (Web) Find (opens in a new tab)
8. NHS Scotland. Lone Working Policy Guide for Managers. NHS Scotland workforce guidance (lone working and community/home delivery considerations). (Web) Find (opens in a new tab)
9. Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Raising Concerns & Whistleblowing: Pharmacy guide. First published 19 May 2022. (Web) Find (opens in a new tab)