Safeguarding at The Bay Medical Practice

At The Bay Medical Practice, we are committed to safeguarding the health, safety, and wellbeing of all our patients. This includes children, vulnerable adults, and those at risk of harm. Our team follows national safeguarding policies, including the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the Care Act 2014, and the NHS Safeguarding Accountability Framework, to ensure that anyone at risk is protected from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is about protecting people’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, ensuring that they live free from harm, abuse, or neglect. It covers:

Children and young people under 18
Vulnerable adults, including those with disabilities, mental health conditions, or older individuals at risk
Victims of domestic abuse, modern slavery, and financial exploitation
Individuals at risk of radicalisation, extremism, or hate crime

We take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and work with external safeguarding agencies to protect those in need.

Our Safeguarding Commitment

All practice staff are trained in safeguarding and can recognise signs of abuse or neglect.
Clear procedures are in place to report safeguarding concerns both within the practice and to external agencies.
We work with social services, NHS safeguarding teams, and the police to support vulnerable patients.
We balance confidentiality with patient safety, sharing information only when necessary to protect individuals from harm.

If you have a safeguarding concern, please speak to our Safeguarding Lead at the practice.

Practice Safeguarding Leads: Dr Kirsty Bateman & Dr Ollie Cule

How to Report a Safeguarding Concern

If you are worried about yourself or someone else, you can:

Speak to a member of staff or member of clinical staff at the practice.
Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.
Call 101 for non-emergency police assistance.
Contact NHS 111 for health-related safeguarding concerns.
Report concerns directly to local safeguarding teams.

Local Safeguarding Contacts

Isle of Wight Safeguarding Children Partnership (IOWSCP)

The Isle of Wight Safeguarding Children Partnership works to protect children from abuse, neglect, and harm. If you are concerned about a child, you can contact Children’s Services:

Telephone: 0300 300 0117
Emergency (out of hours): 0300 555 1373
Email: childrens.services@iow.gov.uk
Website: www.iowscp.org.uk

Isle of Wight Safeguarding Adults Board (IWSAB)

The Isle of Wight Safeguarding Adults Board protects vulnerable adults from abuse, exploitation, and neglect.

Telephone: 01983 823340
Email: sca@iow.gov.uk
Website: www.iowsab.org.uk

Prevent Duty: Protecting Against Radicalisation & Extremism

Prevent is a safeguarding duty that aims to stop individuals from being drawn into terrorism or extremist ideologies. If you are concerned that someone you know may be at risk, early intervention is key.

To learn how to help someone close to you, visit www.actearly.uk for advice, practical tips, and real stories from people who have shared their concerns.

You can also contact the national police Prevent advice line in confidence to share your concerns with specially trained officers.

Prevent Advice Line: 0800 011 3764

If it is an emergency, always call 999.

If you see online content that promotes terrorism or extremism, you can report it anonymously online via the government’s dedicated service at www.gov.uk/report-terrorism.

Specialist Safeguarding Concerns

Domestic Abuse & Coercive Control

Domestic abuse affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Support is available for anyone experiencing domestic violence, coercive control, or emotional abuse.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24/7, free and confidential)
Paragon (Local Domestic Abuse Support): 0800 234 6266
Refuge – Women’s Aid: www.womensaid.org.uk

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) & Forced Marriage

FGM and forced marriage are serious safeguarding concerns. If you or someone you know is at risk, confidential support is available.

FGM National Helpline: 0800 028 3550
Forced Marriage Helpline: 020 7008 0151

Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking

Victims of modern slavery and human trafficking may be forced into labour, sexual exploitation, or domestic servitude. If you suspect someone is being exploited, report it immediately.

Modern Slavery Helpline: 0800 0121 700

Online Safety & Digital Safeguarding

The internet can be a risk factor for exploitation, grooming, and abuse. If you are concerned about someone’s online activity, you can report it.

CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection): www.ceop.police.uk
NSPCC (Keeping Children Safe Online): www.nspcc.org.uk

Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation

Older adults may be at risk of neglect, physical abuse, or financial exploitation. If you suspect abuse, seek help.

Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 0808 808 8141

LGBTQ+ Safeguarding & Hate Crime

LGBTQ+ individuals may experience discrimination, abuse, or hate crime. Safe and supportive services are available.

Galop (LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Support): 0800 999 5428
Stonewall (LGBT+ Rights & Advocacy): www.stonewall.org.uk

Advocacy & Support for Patients with Disabilities

Patients with learning disabilities, dementia, or other complex needs may require advocacy.

Mencap Learning Disability Helpline: 0808 808 1111
VoiceAbility (Advocacy for Patients with Disabilities): www.voiceability.org

Safeguarding for Pregnant Women & New Mothers

Pregnancy and new motherhood can be a time of increased vulnerability, including risk of domestic abuse and mental health concerns.

Maternal Mental Health Alliance: www.maternalmentalhealthalliance.org

Confidentiality & Information Sharing

We respect patient confidentiality and follow UK GDPR and NHS data protection policies. However, if there is a safeguarding concern where an individual is at serious risk, we may need to share information with relevant authorities to protect their safety. Whenever possible, we will discuss this with the patient before taking action.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s Responsibility

If you are worried about your own safety or someone else’s, please reach out. Our team is here to help.

For more information or to report a safeguarding concern, please speak to our Safeguarding Leads or a member of the clinical team at the practice.

We are committed to protecting our patients and ensuring that those in need receive the right support.