We care

We respect

We are inclusive

Safeguarding at ELFT: Everyone’s Responsibility

At East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), we believe everyone has the right to live free from abuse and neglect. Safeguarding is not just a policy—it’s a shared responsibility across our organisation and the communities we serve.

By embedding safeguarding into everything we do, we contribute to:

• Improved Population Health Outcomes

Safeguarding plays a vital role in protecting individuals from harm by identifying and addressing abuse, neglect, and exploitation early. By embedding safeguarding practices across health and social care systems, we help prevent long-term harm, reduce health inequalities, and support the most vulnerable—promoting safer, healthier lives for all.

• Improved Experience of Care

We ensure people feel safe, heard, and supported by making safeguarding processes person-centred, trauma-informed, and respectful of individual rights and dignity. Strengthening multi-agency collaboration enables timely, coordinated support that builds trust and empowers those at risk.

• Improved Staff Experience

Our workforce is empowered through clear safeguarding procedures, regular training, and supportive supervision. This builds confidence and reduces anxiety when managing concerns. We foster a culture of psychological safety where staff feel valued, listened to, and supported in raising or responding to safeguarding issues.

• Improved Value

We deliver high-quality, effective safeguarding by integrating it at every level of care. This leads to earlier intervention, reduced harm, and more efficient use of resources. The result is better outcomes for service users, increased staff confidence and retention, and a stronger organisational reputation and accountability.

Meeting Standards, Delivering Value

We are committed to meeting national safeguarding standards, including:

• Care Quality Commission (CQC)
• Section 11 of the Children Act
• Safeguarding Adults Self-Assessment Framework (SAF)
• Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships (LSCPs)
• Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs)

This ensures our safeguarding practice is robust, accountable, and aligned with our goal of delivering value through quality care.

Putting People First

Safeguarding is part of everything we do. Our staff are trained to:

• Recognise signs of abuse or neglect
• Listen with compassion
• Respond appropriately and promptly

This supports an improved experience of care and reflects our Trust values—safe, compassionate, timely, and responsive care.

A ‘Think Family’ Approach

We take a holistic view of safeguarding, recognising that children, young people, adults, families, and carers are interconnected. Protecting one often means supporting all.

This approach helps us:

• Prevent harm before it happens
• Build safer communities
• Promote population health through early intervention

Working Together

ELFT works in partnership with local agencies across all service areas. We follow multi-agency policies and procedures to ensure concerns are:

• Referred appropriately
• Investigated thoroughly
• Addressed effectively

This collaborative approach strengthens safeguarding outcomes and supports an improved staff experience through shared learning and clear guidance.