Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults and children, and takes its responsibility seriously.
All staff have a duty to uphold our values to be kind, safe and excellent in all they do – putting our patients first, providing safe and effective care, and to be aware of the special attention children and young people (under 18 years of age) should be given while in our care.
Safety from harm and exploitation is one of our most basic needs. Being or feeling unsafe undermines our relationships and self-belief.
Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons. It may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be an act of neglect or an omission to act or it may occur when a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which her or she has not consented, or cannot consent. Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm, or exploitation of the vulnerable person.
As a Trust, we are committed to preventing and prosecuting abuse, and have assigned staff directly responsible for this function. We have also published a range of materials on the topic. In addition, both Birmingham City Council and Solihull Council have set safeguarding standards to which we adhere.
