Riverside Skin & Laser Clinic (RSLC) is fully committed to ensuring the safety of all children, young people and adults at risk who come into contact with or use any of the services or treatments at our clinic.

We recognise that all patients, staff and any person who comes into our clinic – regardless of race, age, ability, gender, identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief – have the right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.

RSLC strives to safely deliver individual and personal skin and dermatology healthcare to the highest standards of quality, and this is embedded in our safeguarding responsibilities.

Riverside Skin & Laser Clinic will safeguard people by:

• Ensuring they are empowered to ask questions
• Speaking up about abuse, neglect or individuals at risk of harm
• Listening and respecting individuals reporting concerns and supporting the correct processes
• Protecting individuals from violence, exploitation, abuse and harm
• Providing a safe environment for children, young people and adults who use our services
• Working in partnership with other relevant agencies to support a multi-agency safeguarding network
• Recruiting all staff safely by ensuring that references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), professional registration and the right to work in the UK checks are completed appropriately

Registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is further evidence of our commitment to continued improvement and maintenance of the highest standards and regulations.

What we do.

RSLC will ensure we maintain patient’s autonomy, support their individual decisions and empower them when appropriate or necessary. 

We continually review guidelines and best practice to ensure that all staff are aware of the appropriate processes. All staff, clinical and non-clinical, receive safeguarding training as we believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to maintain safety. We encourage staff to have open and transparent conversations about the well-being of patients and fellow staff members who they feel may be at risk.

RSLC has a comprehensive safeguarding policy and regularly reviews procedures, the implementation of which is overseen by our clinic director and our Registered Manager. 

RSLC has also guaranteed that all staff receive relevant training and understand the importance of safeguarding within the clinic. RSLC encourages the message that when something does not feel right, it is incumbent on staff to speak up.

Staff training includes:

• Safeguarding Adults and Children’s eLearning modules
• Education about the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberties

We work in line with this legislation and other relevant guidance to discharge safeguarding responsibilities for children and adults at risk.

Riverside Skin & Laser Clinic staff are aware of their ongoing personal responsibility to escalate any concerns and to ensure unacceptable professional practice is identified and tackled.