This page covers:
- Payments for safeguarding reports and how to claim
- Safeguarding training
Payment for Safeguarding Reports: Did you know practices can claim for any safeguarding reports submitted?
If you don’t already claim for safeguarding reports, this is a reminder to practices should invoice the ICS for any safeguarding reports completed by the GP.
a. Background
The guidance from GPC regarding obligations and entitlements of General Practitioners who are asked to attend child protection case conferences or to prepare written safeguarding reports for use at them.
This guidance was influenced by extensive feedback and examples of cases from GP’s across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
We are aware this differs across the Country but GP’s within LLR don’t currently receive a fee for the completion of safeguarding reports. LLR LMC have been lobbying to get this changed. Dr Rao (Vice-Chair, Operations, LMC) has written to the CCG Chairs and Safeguarding teams raising these points.
GPC is aware of ongoing problems around the obligations and entitlements of General Practitioners who are asked to attend child protection case conferences or to prepare written safeguarding reports for use at them.
It has been brought to our attention that some CCGs, while noting the GP contracts contain no provisions requiring them to contribute to the safeguarding process, have nonetheless suggested that GPs would need to justify non-compliance, with regard to their statutory safeguarding duties, if a report was not submitted, and that non-compliance could justify a referral to the GMC, with the implication that disciplinary action could be taken against defaulting GPs.
Alternatively, it has been suggested that a CCG could contemplate taking action for alleged non-compliance by means of a breach/remedial notice.
The approach of GPC has been to encourage practices to engage with safeguarding processes, but to agree a fee in advance of attending conferences or providing reports.
The provision by GPs of the relevant safeguarding services falls outside the scope of the range of essential, additional or enhanced services provided for in parts 8 – 12 of the standard GMS contract. Clause 19.1.2 (a) of the GMS contract specifically permits the contractor to demand or accept a fee or other remuneration ‘from any statutory body for services rendered for the purposes of that body’s statutory functions’
GPC has obtained external legal advice on the issue, and has concluded that GPs do have an obligation to comply with their statutory safeguarding duties, but equally that they are entitled to a fee.
b. How to submit a safeguarding invoice to the ICB?
There are two ways to submit invoices to the ICB. The first is sending the physical invoices to the below address:
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland ICB
QK1 PAYABLES N235
PO Box 312
LEEDS
LS11 1HP
FAO: XXFHUSSEIN
The second option is to submit invoices electronically via SBS Oracle:
Send final PDF invoice via email to: sbs.apinvoicing@nhs.net to submit (following the criteria below):
- Any email containing the word “Statement” or “Reminder” within the subject line will be automatically deleted by the system.
- PDF invoices may be sent to this email box as an attachment for processing. Please note only PDF Email attachments will be accepted, other file formats will be rejected.
- Emails with multiple PDF’s are acceptable, however there should be only one invoice per PDF and any backing documentation must be included in the same PDF as the relative invoice.
- Multiple invoices within the same PDF document cannot be processed.
Please include the following info on the invoice:
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland ICB
QK1 PAYABLES N235
PO Box 312
LEEDS
LS11 1HP
FAO: XXFHUSSEIN
Safeguarding invoices will need to be clearly marked as for the attention of Fayaaz Hussein (XXFHUSSEIN). This will help speed up the allocation process when invoices come on to the system for processing.
Safeguarding invoices will need to be clearly marked as for the attention of Fayaaz Hussein (XXFHUSSEIN). This will help speed up the allocation process when invoices come on to the system.
Invoices should be sent to cover reimbursement of professional time for the completion of safeguarding reports. Practices should submit safeguarding invoices to ICB. The amount claimed will be dependent on the complexity and time taken to produce the report – we have included some BMA guidance on professional fees: Fees (bma.org.uk)
c. GPC advice
There are no agreed fees for completing safeguarding reports or attending case conferences.
GPC’s advice is therefore to provide the relevant services, but on the basis that a fee will be sought for the same, indicating the rate of charge ahead of the provision of the report or attendance at the case conference as the case may be.
The commissioner of the service would be notified that acceptance of such services will be treated as signifying a willingness to engage the GP on the stipulated terms. In the event of non-payment a claim for the fee could then be pursued.
This type of work falls under Section 80 of the NHS Act 2006 and enables local authorities to carry out their responsibilities in the fields of education, social services and public health.
A GP may breach confidentiality if it is in the public interest, but since this work involves either children or vulnerable adults, we would advise doctors to seek advice before doing this.
Safeguarding Training
The LMC has been working closely with Dr Amit Rastogi, ICB Named GP Safeguarding Lead and LMC board member to ensure that general practice is clear on its roles and responsibilities around safeguarding.
This guidance is for GPs and anyone working in any general practice setting which sets out the detailed information on the new RCGP Safeguarding training requirements.
Full guidance and further details of each standard can be found : RCGP safeguarding standards for general practice
The RCGP guidance does not specify a number of hours to complete but an annual requirement of reflective practice and to complete the Reflective Practice Template +/- Case reviews for your appraisal.
Though there is no formal guidance , we would encourage you to continue to complete a mix of e–learning modules, face to face learning, practice and multidisciplinary case discussion and reading over a 3 yearly basis.
From the 1st April 2026, GP Safeguarding Level 3 training for GPs across LLR can now be booked via Eventbrite. In addition, Safeguarding Lead GPs can now book both the child and adult safeguarding forums through Eventbrite.
Please follow the link below to access the training:
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/nhs-llr-icb-safeguarding-121098239108
Once logged in, you will be able to view and book all available GP Level 3 Safeguarding training sessions, as well as Safeguarding Lead GP forum sessions.
For GP Level 3 Safeguarding training, once the evaluation form has been completed, participants will receive access to their certificate and the session slides. Please note that certificates will not be issued for Safeguarding Lead Forum attendees.
Safeguarding Lead Forum sessions will be recorded, with recordings available in the Teams chat. Session notes will also be circulated to all Safeguarding Lead GPs and Practice Managers following the event.
| Level 2 | Level 3 | |
| Staff that the levels applies to: | Practice managers Office/senior managers (see additional requirements for practice managers) Care navigators Reception managers Managers/leads of administrative/secretarial team Healthcare assistants Receptionists Administrative staff with any patient contact ( as per CQC guidance) | GPs Practice Nurses Physician Associates Pharmacists Paramedics Advance Care Practitioners Advance Nurse Practitioners Social prescribers Care – ordinators Mental Health workers Physiotherapists Podiatrists Dieticians all ARRS Roles Safeguarding Administrators PCN Safeguarding co-ordinators GP Registrars |
| The RCGP safeguarding standards | 1. Professional safeguarding responsibilities 2. Identification of abuse and neglect 3. Responding to abuse and neglect 4. Documenting safeguarding concerns and information 5. Information sharing and multiagency working Alongside these new standards they have developed a new RCGP safeguarding toolkit, eLearning modules, a podcast and additional resources to support safeguarding learning in general practice | |
| Induction into new role | Have a practice/organisational safeguarding induction AND complete relevant safeguarding Level e-learning modules meet with the practice safeguarding lead within 1 month of starting to: discuss the safeguarding structure, policies, and procedures within the practice/organisation.identify any areas of professional development need related to safeguarding. | |
| Annually to engage in safeguarding learning and reflection | Updates should be aligned to the RCGP standards above and could include: topics across the breadth of the five key areas of the safeguarding standards child and adult safeguarding, including topics which apply to both e.g. transitional safeguarding, domestic abuse. practical applications to general practice such as the use of case-based learning relevant learning from any local or national safeguarding reviews multi-agency and multi-disciplinary safeguarding learning relevant safeguarding updates role-specific safeguarding training and updates Updates could be face-to-face or virtual. It could include watching a recorded update. | |
| Learning and reflection across the five areas of safeguarding knowledge and capabilities could include: | Safeguarding case discussion. The Safeguarding Case Review – Structured Template could be used to demonstrate case reflection (individual reflection or case-based discussion) Regular attendance at practice/organisational safeguarding meetings with reflection on learning and impact on practice Example of documenting safeguarding concerns and information and how risks were dealt with Example of information sharing or involvement in multi-agency working with reflection on good practice and/or areas for development Reading and/or online learning with reflection on impact on practice Attendance on a safeguarding update/course with reflection on learning Safeguarding CPD activities with reflection on learning and impact on practice Safeguarding quality improvement activities Safeguarding significant events with reflection on learning and impact on practice Participation in statutory reviews and quality improvement activities or learning and impact on practice that may have resulted from this Multi-agency safeguarding training or learning events with reflection on learning and impact on practice | |
| Documentation | This should be demonstrated through the use of the RCGP Safeguarding Reflective Practice – Structured Template and the RCGP Safeguarding Case Review – Structured Template. These completed templates should then be placed within your annual appraisal. ( see attached) Practitioners should cover both children and adult safeguarding in their learning and reflection | |
Please see link for additional requirements for practice managers :
Role of a practice manager in safeguarding
Please see link for additional requirements for practice safeguarding leads :
Practice or organisational safeguarding lead
Please develop a practice process to enable documentation that all practice staff have completed their annual reflective practice for CQC purposes . This can be done in several ways e.g. – a spreadsheet held by the practice manager, use of bluestream and logging external training, via teamsnet or Practice Index
LLR Safeguarding Training for Admin Leads
The Local Medical Committee (LMC) has established a collaborative working group for LLR Safeguarding Administrative Leads. This group provides a valuable opportunity for members to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and learn from one another in relation to the administrative (non-clinical) aspects of safeguarding.
The group aims to function as a supportive forum for peer engagement, as well as a shared resource to assist practices in delivering safeguarding responsibilities effectively within General Practice. Meetings are held several times throughout the year.
If your practice would like to be represented within this group, please contact the LMC office to register your interest.
In addition, the LMC facilitates an LLR Safeguarding Administrative Leads WhatsApp group to further enhance peer support and communication between meetings. Practices wishing to join this group are also encouraged to contact the LMC office.