Our NHS services | Site map | Accessibility Search: HomeAbout us Health services Child Protection and Safeguarding What is ‘Safeguarding children’? Safeguarding children is defined as: Protecting children from maltreatment. Preventing impairment of child’s health and development. Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care. Enabling children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully. Child Protection is part of safeguarding and promoting welfare and refers to the activity which is undertaken to protect children who are suffering or are likely to suffer significant harm The definition of a ‘child’ is anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday (Children Act 1989). Are you a child concerned about yourself or a friend? Child abuse is not OK. All children have the right to live free from abuse and neglect. If you are concerned and you want to talk to someone about yourself or a friend please use one of the contacts below or speak to a trusted adult such as a parent, teacher or school nurse. Are you a member of the public concerned about a child’s safety or welfare? Remember: Protecting children is everybody’s business Everyone have a responsibility to report abuse If in doubt share your concerns about children immediately Reporting concerns rarely leads to a child being removed from their family Act now – don’t leave a child at risk If you believe that a child or young person is at immediate risk, this should be reported without delay to the police service as a 999 emergency. Everyone has a responsibility for safeguarding children, not just professionals. If you have concerns that a child needs a service, or needs help and support in some way, there are people who can help. Useful contacts: Childline 800 1111 Get information and advice about a wide range of issues, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards https://childline.org.uk/ NSPCC 0808 8005 000 St.Helens Contact Cares on 01744 676767 Halton Children Social Care 0151 907 8305 Warrington Children Social Care 01925 443322 Oldham Children 0161 770 7777 Police 101 or 999 in an emergency Useful websites Halton Children and Young People Partnership https://hcypsp.haltonsafeguarding.co.uk Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership www.oldham.gov.uk/lscb St Helens Safeguarding Children Partnership www.sthelenssafeguarding.org.uk Warrington Safeguarding Partnership www.warringtonlscb.org Contact us Bridgewater Headquarters Europa Point, Europa Boulevard Warrington Cheshire WA5 7TY Email: bchft.enquiries@nhs.net Tel: 0844 264 3614 Quick links Vacancies / jobs Site map Our clinics Board meetings Privacy FOI Infection control Latest tweet Bridgewater NHSFollow Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides community #NHS #health services to areas of the North West. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. 🌈#TeamBridgewater. Bridgewater NHS@Bridgewater_NHS·16h Face coverings will be compulsory in shops and on public transport from tomorrow (30 November), unless exempt 😷 This is one of the new precautionary measures being introduced to prevent the spread of the #COVID19 variant Omicron. More info 👇 https://gov.uk/government/news/government-takes-decisive-act... Reply on Twitter 1465415279618445315 Retweet on Twitter 1465415279618445315 Like on Twitter 1465415279618445315 1 Twitter 1465415279618445315 © 2021 Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the copyright owner. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT