Reporting routes, safeguarding leads and safer practice

A concern only helps if it reaches the correct route. Each practice should identify the safeguarding lead or named contact, explain who covers them if they are absent, and set out how to escalate urgent concerns.

Know your route before you need it

• Who is the safeguarding lead or named senior person?
• Who covers when they are away?
• Where is the local safeguarding procedure kept?
• How do staff report a concern during normal opening?
• What is the urgent route if someone is in immediate danger?
• How are concerns recorded and stored securely?
• What should staff do if a concern involves a colleague, manager or contractor?
• How are locums, temporary staff and new starters briefed?

Speaking up and allegations against staff

If a concern involves a staff member, contractor, manager or professional, it must be reported. Do not handle it informally, warn the person involved or investigate alone. Follow the local safeguarding, speaking-up or allegations procedure.

If you report a concern and nothing appears to happen, seek advice or escalate through the next safe route. Safeguarding depends on concerns being acted on, not being buried.

Manager governance and GOC context

Safeguarding systems should work on busy days, quiet days, staff absence days and locum days. The route must not depend on one person being available.