Safeguarding Policy

Midwife Vic | Postnatal, feeding and scar support
Version 1.0 | Effective: October 2026 | Review: October 2027

1. Policy statement

Midwife Vic is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every parent, baby and family she works with. The welfare of babies, children and adults at risk always comes first. Every safeguarding concern will be taken seriously and acted on promptly.

2. Scope

This policy applies to every appointment Midwife Vic provides in England and in Guernsey, whether at home, at a venue or online. Her services are:

  • feeding support

  • postnatal support

  • ScarWork

  • antenatal education, hypnobirthing and Mummy MOT.

Vic is an NMC-registered midwife but does not provide midwifery care. Her safeguarding duties as a registrant apply in full, whatever service she is providing.

3. Responsibilities

As a sole practitioner, Vic is her own Designated Safeguarding Lead. She will:

  • recognise and respond to concerns about babies, children and adults at risk

  • refer concerns to the right agency without delay, and never investigate them herself

  • keep accurate, secure and confidential records

  • complete Level 3 safeguarding training (children and adults) and keep it current

  • seek advice from local safeguarding services whenever she is unsure.

4. Recognising concerns

In postnatal and feeding work, concerns may include:

  • unexplained bruising or injury in a baby who is not yet mobile

  • feeding or weight concerns that are not being acted on

  • signs of neglect of the baby or of other children in the home

  • domestic abuse, including coercive or controlling behaviour

  • severe perinatal mental illness, including thoughts of harming self or baby

  • substance misuse affecting the care of the baby

  • female genital mutilation (FGM), exploitation or honour-based abuse.

5. Responding to a concern

If Vic has a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a parent, baby or child, she will act promptly in line with local safeguarding procedures. Where it is safe to do so, she will talk to you about her concerns first and seek your consent before sharing information. If someone is at immediate risk, or seeking consent would increase that risk, she may share information without consent.

6. Who to contact

Guernsey and Alderney

England

Emergency

999

999

Child

Multi-Agency Support Hub (MASH): 01481 223182, multiagencysupporthub@gov.gg

Children’s social care at the council where the child lives

Child, out of hours

Emergency Duty Service: 01481 222222

The council’s emergency duty team

Adult at risk

Adult Safeguarding Manager: 01481 226923

Adult social care at the council where the adult lives

Police (non-emergency)

01481 222222

101

Advice

MASH

NSPCC: 0808 800 5000

7. Confidentiality and records

Safeguarding records are factual, dated and stored securely in patient management software. They are handled in line with:

  • UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018

  • the Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2017.

Information is shared only when necessary to keep someone safe. Clients are told this in the consent form.

8. Safer practice

  • Vic works within the scope of her insurance and does not examine, diagnose or treat. Clinical concerns are referred to the appropriate NHS or States of Guernsey services.

  • Photographs of clients or babies are taken and stored only with written consent.

  • Any allegation about Vic’s own conduct will be referred to the appropriate authority (the LADO in England, MASH in Guernsey) and reported to the NMC and her insurer as required.

9. Legislation and guidance

This policy follows:

  • the NMC Code

  • in England: the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 and the Care Act 2014

  • in Guernsey: the Children (Guernsey and Alderney) Law, 2008, Islands Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures and the Guernsey and Alderney Multi-Agency Adult Safeguarding Policy.

10. Review

This policy is reviewed every year. It will also be reviewed after any safeguarding incident, or when legislation or the NMC Code changes. The revised NMC Code is expected in 2027.