Definition of children
The Children Act (2004) defines children as people under the age of 18 years. This legal definition applies to this document and to the terms, ‘child’, ‘children’, ‘young person’ and ‘young people’ used within it.
Key principles upon which this Safeguarding Children’s Statement is based are:
The welfare of the child is paramount.
Working in partnership with children, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting the welfare, health and development of children.
All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
Extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.
All allegations and suspicions of harm will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately.
Introduction
The purpose of this safeguarding statement is:
- to protect children and young people who receive St Michael’s Hospice’s services, from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services
- to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
This statement applies to anyone working on behalf of the St Michael’s Hospice organisation, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff, students and contractors.
Staff and volunteers within the St Michael’s Hospice organisation, involved in healthcare provision have a responsibility in safeguarding children. All employees must work within organisational policy and local statutory procedures for safeguarding children.
Safeguarding Children
St. Michael’s Hospice is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person we come into contact with. We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and all staff, volunteers and partner organisations have a duty to protect children from harm and to promote their wellbeing.
In line with the Department for Education’s statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children means:
- Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge.
- Protecting children from maltreatment, whether within or outside the home, including online.
- Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development.
- Ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
- Promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise within their wider family network where this is in the child’s best interests.
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best possible outcomes.
(Department for Education, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026)
All staff and volunteers at St Michael’s Hospice, alongside partner agencies working with children, young people and their families, are expected to take all reasonable measures to safeguard children, recognise concerns, respond appropriately, and work collaboratively with other agencies to ensure children are safe and receive the help, support and protection they need.
Clinicians working alongside children, parents and other adults in contact with children are expected to be able to identify indicators that a child’s welfare or safety might be at risk and to act appropriately in response to concerns. This includes the welfare of unborn children.
Our Adult and Child safeguarding policy is available to read in full. If you are a staff member St. Michael’s Hospice, the policy can be viewed on the shared organisation folder. For anyone external to our organisation, please speak to a member of the Hospice team or email: info@stmichaelshospice.org.uk.
We are committed to formally reviewing our policy annually.
Key Personnel
St Michael’s Hospice Clinical Director: Jo Fricker
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Dr Jemma Storrar
Medical Director: Dr Jemma Storrar