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Complex Safeguarding Wales

Healthcare policy and practice guidance

Health practitioners must work with local authorities and other organisations to improve well-being outcomes for young people that are being exploited.

Healthcare providers hold vital information that can be used to help identify whether a child is being exploited. They must contribute to multi-agency strategy discussions and meetings.

Systems must be established that enable health practitioners to access and share information, as soon as possible.

Social Services Well-being (Wales) Act 2014

Under the Social Services Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, health practitioners must work with local authorities and other organisations to improve the well-being outcomes for young people. The Act strengthens safeguarding powers and is underpinned by a child’s right approach where young people have a right to:

  • make decisions about their care and support
  • access information and advice
  • receive a proportionate individual-focused assessment
  • receive a preventative approach to their care and support needs.

If they suspect a young person is being criminally exploited, healthcare providers must report a young person to the local authority. To do this they must have access to appropriate training to help them identify potential victims of exploitation. They should have staff with responsibility for safeguarding and who have links with specialist local and national services and organisations.

All healthcare providers should:

  • understand referral processes
  • ensure referrals are made in a timely manner
  • understand what information can be shared under the General Data Protection Regulations
  • be aware of the care and support available in their area.

Substance Misuse Delivery Plan 2019-22

Under the Substance Misuse Delivery Plan, young people should be offered the most appropriate help based on their needs. To do this, health and social care must work in partnership with other organisations.

Services in Wales must adopt a client-focused, strengths-based public health approach to substance misuse, including drugs and alcohol. This means addressing harm reduction, prevention, and treatment. The aim is to reduce harm and promote long-term recovery. Under this plan, the priority areas include:

  • responding to co-occurring mental health problems and substance misuse
  • supporting families/carers of substance misusers
  • improving access to support and treatment.