Northumbria Healthcare Safeguarding and Acute LD Liaison Team

26/01/2026

28/12/2025

Clare's Law - do you know the basics? 🫂

Sadly, we tend to see a rise in reports of domestic abuse during the festive period, so we want to take take any opportunity we can to remind you about what schemes are in place for you to use.

💙 Clare's Law is just one of those tools - you can submit application to ask us if a current, ex‑partner or prospective partner has a history of abuse.

You can apply for yourself or on behalf of a friend or relative if you’re worried they’re at risk.

🔗 Find out more or apply today through the link in the comments. It's free, confidential, and can be used by anyone.

19/08/2025

🚨 Nationwide Emergency Alert Test — Sunday 7th September, 3pm

The UK’s new emergency alert system will send a loud siren, message, and vibration to every compatible phone even on silent. Survivors of abuse with hidden phones could be put at risk if the device is discovered.

You can opt out in your phone’s settings to protect your safety:
✅ iPhone: Search “Emergency Alerts” in settings → Turn off Severe & Emergency alerts

✅ Android: Search “Emergency Alerts” in settings → Turn off Severe & Emergency alerts (and other threat categories if listed)

04/08/2025

Teesside Coroner’s Office is appealing for the relatives of 36-year-old Ben Hudson, of Fraser Court, Hartlepool, who sadly passed away on Friday 25th July. It's believed he may have potential family in the Newcastle area.

There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Any relatives are asked to contact Teesside Coroner’s Office on 01642 729350.

12/05/2025

Are you a dynamic, curious Nurse Associate and are you looking to try something a bit different? The safeguarding team are looking to recruit a Band 4 NA on a 12 month secondment, supporting our MARAC process providing and analysing information to support victims of high risk domestic abuse. If this is something you would be interested in. See below link to application and please share with all your NA colleagues.

https://staffportal.northumbria.nhs.uk/you/people-services/recruitment-and-progression/vacancies #!/job/UK/Tyne_Wear/Cramlington/Northumbria_Healthcare_NHCT_Northumbria_Healthcare_NHS_Foundation_Trust/All_specialities/All_specialities-v7189971?_ts=1081

We look forward to hearing from you 😊

01/05/2025

Micala Trussler from Holly’s Hope sharing Holly’s story after her life was taken during a knife attack by her ex-boyfriend in Hexham. Holly’s Hope aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse in teenage relationships and raise funds for bleed boxes in the community.

01/05/2025

Back after break listening to Dr Jenny Molloy talking about her loved experience of childhood traum and the care system.

01/05/2025

Listening to Michael-Preston-Shoot talk about self neglect and some learning from a recent local thematic review.

11/12/2024

Winter vaccinations for patients with learning disabilities

All people with learning disabilities are on the priority list for free flu and Covid-19 vaccines.

To support our patients with learning disabilities, we are now offering them their vaccinations on day 1 of their admission wherever possible. This is to help keep them safe during their stay in hospital.

The immunisation team will contact wards where there are eligible patients. Please ensure that you allow them access to these patients.

If you have any queries, please contact lead immunisation nurse Danielle Robinson (ext. 112270) or specialist learning disability and autism acute liaison nurse Samantha Walker

11/11/2024

Count down to the Safeguarding Champions annual face to face meet – all welcome.

A chance to meet like-minded colleagues. It will be lovely to see you all.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY 🎤: Wansbeck Lecture Theatre, Tuesday 19th November, 12 mid-day.
Refreshments! ☕🫖🍪
Allison Payne, Senior Safeguarding Practitioner (Health)

10/07/2024

EXCELENT morning spent with Beacon Hill sixth form and at northumbria.

Our Aim: to desensitise our young adults with a learning disability who are transitioning into adulthood. Help them understand what to expect should they need to come into hospital and what support is available.

We have provided all young people with a ‘GRAB BAG’ and hospital passport and tried to make a trip to Northumbria Trust a positive experience.

Thank you everyone who has supported our Acute Learning Disability liaison nurses make this possible from our amazing staff at DASH, school nursing and catering staff. The young people have had a great morning and have told us they aren’t as scared to come into hospital now – which we are taking as a big success.

We are looking forward to welcoming more students in 2025.

21/06/2024

👋 Meet Chloe – one of 12 Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) who will be deployed with frontline officers during the European Championships.

The activity has two main threads: protecting vulnerable victims and targeting perpetrators.

During the Euros, and as part of Operation Flagship, Chloe and other IDVAs in the region will be paired up with response officers to form ‘IDVA cars’ where they’ll be able to be present at domestic abuse-related callouts, and able to offer immediate and effective advice.

This will include providing direct support to victims and addressing any safeguarding concerns in real time.

🗣️ Chloe said: “As IDVAs, we really benefit from having those face-to-face interactions with clients. When we’re able to speak with people in person, we can gauge emotions better, read body language, and build that report so we can tailor our approach appropriately.

“We also find we get a better uptake on our services when we have that in-person approach, even if this doesn’t mean engaging with us initially. After a day or so, or a good night’s sleep, people sometimes change their mind so we always follow-up to ask if they’re ready for our support.

“We want to be as approachable as possible so we don’t wear uniforms and we’re here to speak to as openly as possible about what help we can offer you, completely independent from police.”

💙 Chloe continued: “IDVAs going out with officers means we can catch people in the moment of what’s just happened and talk about what we can offer – carrying that support on immediately without the need to wait for any referrals.

“I feel really privileged to be part of this experience and being able to get to the front-line in offering those immediate acts of support, safety advice and signposting to whatever service is most appropriate for them.

“The IDVAs across the Northumbria area have a wealth of experience and really care about making that difference to peoples’ lives – which is ultimately what we’re here to do.”

Officers have praised the facility offered by the IDVAs which allows for a more in-depth initial service, feeding back that victims have reported feeling ‘reassured’ and ‘satisfied’ with the police response.