Let's look then at the key decisions service providers need to take. Firstly, we need to define what is a service provider. any organization that exists to provide services to children or vulnerable adults is classed as a service provider and must put safeguarding procedures in place. The organization may be fully or partially funded by local or central government, or they may be entirely privately funded. All such organizations must be registered and are subject to inspection by the Care Quality Commission in England and Wales or appropriate equivalent body in your jurisdiction. Service Providers include schools play groups and nurseries, after school clubs, care homes, medical practices dentists, care providers, charities, youth groups, including scouts and guides clubs, home helps, and so on a whole variety of organizations, any organization that as we've said in the definition provides services to children or vulnerable adults.

And what are the responsibilities of service providers? The UK Care Quality Commission inspectors handbook lists nine responsibilities for the providers of public services, which includes GP practices and all these other practices I've named, firstly, to put in place and operate effective systems, processes policies, procedures, and training to help ensure children and adults who use services are safeguarded from the risk of or actual abuse and neglect. Secondly, to comply with accepted national guidance on staff competencies, in line with their role. Thirdly, to be aware of the mental capacity act 2005 and the media of consent. Fourth, to provide levels and the quality of service that meets all the requirements of the relevant safeguarding regulatory framework for the service they provide. Fifth, to remedy any shortcomings found in safeguarding practice in their service to help reduce risks to people who use the service.

Six to learn and apply learning from any safeguarding incident to help strengthen safeguarding in the future. Seven to refer incidences of abuse or potential abuse to local authorities safeguarding teams, eight to notify the Care Quality Commission of safeguarding incidents in accordance with regulations by completing statutory notification at the time the abuse is identified, and ninth to cooperate with safeguarding inquiries. These nine responsibilities have led me to create this generic safeguarding process, essentially a flow chart of the processes that you should have in place. So the issues may start with any of the four orange hexagons at the top left there, your organization may receive documents relating to safeguarding. There may be registration of a new service user. There may be concerns raised in the service or there may be proactive review of safeguarding issues.

Documents received relating to safeguarding should be reviewed. Any safeguarding issues identified any safeguarding action required identified, that action should be taken. And then either no further action is recorded on the service users record or it needs to be referred to a safeguarding or health professional. For a new service user being registered. A new service user record needs to be created. And again any safeguarding issues identified.

As before those safeguarding issues will be reviewed any action taken needs to be put in place. An either at record recorded that no further action was required on the service user record or refer to the appropriate professional. Similarly, concerns raised in service need to be communicated to the safeguarding lead and or other trained professional in the organization. And again, the issues identified reviewed action taken and recorded or referred as appropriate. And finally, regular proactive review of safeguarding issues will lead to cases identified which need further review. These issues should be identified from the cases by the appropriate trained people.

And again, action required to identify the taken and recorded any referrals to a professional, require professional follow up is shown on the right hand side of the flowchart, with cases identified for instance Service review and further action taken as appropriate, and then service users or records updated as required. There should also be regular audit of safeguarding effectiveness, which we'll talk about and any issues raised for staff training and awareness.