Safeguarding at the Royal Devon
The Safeguarding Team at the Royal Devon helps keep children and adults safe across all our hospitals.
Every hospital must have Named Professionals whose job is to protect people from harm. At the Royal Devon, our Safeguarding Team makes sure that staff follow best practices and provides advice, support, training, and supervision on any safeguarding issues.
We have specially trained nurses, doctors, and midwives who work closely with other health professionals, including:
- Clinicians
- GPs
- Health Visitors
- Mental Health Services
- CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
- School Nurses
Our team also works with other organisations - like the Police, Social Care, and local or volunteer groups - to keep people safe and supported.
Meet the team
Chief Nursing Officer (Executive Lead for Safeguarding & MCA) – Carolyn Mills
Director of Nursing – Northern Services (portfolio holder for Safeguarding & MCA) – Beverley Allingham
Associate Director of Safeguarding & MCA, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Lead & Modern Slavery Lead – Louise Barraclough
Head of Safeguarding & MCA, Named Professional for Safeguarding Adults, PREVENT and FGM Lead – Anna Brimacombe
Named Nurse Safeguarding Children - Laura Lethaby
Named Doctor Safeguarding Children – Dr Sadiya Gumi (North), Dr John-Paul Smith (East)
Named Midwife – Nikki Soper
Mental Capacity Act Professional Lead – Natalie Wensley
How to access the service
The Safeguarding Service at the Royal Devon is here to help and support all staff with any concerns about safeguarding children and adults. We also work with other partner organisations when needed.
You can contact the team Monday to Friday, between 8:30am and 4:00pm.
Email: rduh.safeguarding@nhs.net
Safeguarding Children
01271 341533 / 01392 406430
Safeguarding Adults
01271 341550 / 01392 406430
Safeguarding Adults
Safeguarding adults at risk means making sure people can live safely, without being abused or neglected. It’s about everyone working together to stop abuse and to support people’s wellbeing, safety, and choices.
An adult, as defined by the Care Act 2014, is anyone aged 18 or over who needs care or support and might be at risk of abuse or neglect, or who may find it hard to protect themselves from harm.
At the Royal Devon, we are committed to protecting adults who may be at risk. We work closely with other organisations like the police, local councils, the Care Quality Commission, other NHS Trusts, and independent care providers to make sure adults are kept safe.
Our Safeguarding Team is here to give advice and guide staff on how to protect adults from abuse or neglect.
Working Together to Keep Adults Safe
The Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership (TDSAP) was set up in 2021 to lead and guide the work to keep adults safe across Torbay and Devon.
Find out here - Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership (TDSAP)
Safeguarding Adults: Care Direct
If you see abuse happening, or if an adult tells you they’ve been abused, you should report it to Devon County Council. You can call Care Direct on 0345 155 1007 or email adultsc.safeguardingadultservices-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
If you’re not sure what to do and want to talk about it first, you can contact the Devon County Council Safeguarding Adults Team on 01392 381208 for advice.
Safeguarding Children
The Safeguarding Service makes sure the Royal Devon follows the law to keep children and young people safe, as set out in the Children Act (1989/2004) and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023).
The main aims of the service are to:
- Make sure all children and young people are protected from harm
- Always put the child’s safety and wellbeing first, and listen to their voice
- Follow the South West Child Protection Procedures
- Use national and local guidance on safeguarding
- Work closely with the Devon Safeguarding Children Partnership
- Encourage good safeguarding and child protection practice across the organisation
Front Door Services (MASH):
If you’re a member of the public, you can contact Front Door Services (the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, or MASH) without giving your name. If you have concerns about a child’s safety or think a child might be at risk, you can call the Front Door/MASH on 0345 155 1071.
Go here for more information about the services Front Door/MASH offers.
For information on Child Protection please go here: The Devon Safeguarding Children Partnership (Devon SCP)
Information for Police and social care professionals when requesting a Child Protection Medical
If Police or Social Care professionals want to arrange a child protection medical assessment, they should follow the usual local procedures and refer to the Child Protection Assessment Referral Guidance.
If police or social care professionals need to talk about a child protection assessment, they can contact:
- North Devon District Hospital: Speak to the on-call Consultant Paediatrician through the switchboard at 01271 322577
- Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford): Speak to the on-call Paediatrician through the switchboard at 01392 411611
- Safeguarding Children team: Call 01271 341533 or email rduh.safeguarding@nhs.net
Modern Slavery Statement
Please link this to the Declaration currently found on the Trust website NHS Royal Devon | Modern Slavery Statement