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Safeguarding Adults Week

Meet Our People: Nicky Vellacott

Safeguarding Adults Week 2024

Our commitment to Safeguarding

This week is Safeguarding Adults Week, and we would like to take this opportunity to shine a spotlight on our Safeguarding team.

Safeguarding is imperative to protect our health, wellbeing and our human rights, enabling us all to live safely, free from harm, abuse and neglect. It is the measures and actions we take to protect children, young people, families and adults at risk from harm, abuse and neglect. It involves HUC working together as a team and with other organisations to prevent and stop abuse.

The Safeguarding team at HUC is comprised of eight members who are dedicated, work incredibly hard, and have embraced change to achieve and maintain high safeguarding standards for our patient communities.

While each team member plays a unique role, their strength lies in their unwavering support for one another. Safeguarding can be emotionally challenging, especially when dealing with difficult cases every day. To help navigate this, we prioritise regular check-ins, ensuring everyone feels supported.

Meet our Head of Safeguarding for Adults and Children

Nicky Vellacott joined HUC in April 2023, after spending approximately 30 years at Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH), where she held several roles, including Midwife, Health Visitor, Safeguarding Advisor, and later, Named Nurse for Safeguarding. The last role involved overseeing safeguarding for the Hertfordshire Sexual Health Service and Community Services when CLCH became the provider.

In her current role, Nicky ensures that colleagues are supported in identifying safeguarding concerns and making the right decisions to keep our patients safe. This involves providing appropriate training, supervision, policies, guidance, and systems. Additionally, the role includes working closely with multi-agency teams and ICBs to maintain strong partnerships for effective collaboration and shared learning.

Nicky Vellacott

HUC’s new safeguarding referral process: a milestone in teamwork and dedication

“One of my proudest moments at HUC was on 23 September 2024, when we successfully launched the new safeguarding referral process. It was a testament to the dedication and teamwork of HUC and the safeguarding team. A huge thank you to Amanda (Safeguarding Lead), Shola (Safeguarding Facilitator Team Lead), Akifa, Helen, Niamh, Vaisally and Dr Fabienne Smith for all their hard work, and a special thanks to Leanne, my manager for her continued support,” says Nicky.

“I am immensely proud of their achievements and the way they’ve embraced change with resilience and enthusiasm,” Nicky added.

Leanne Walsh, Associate Director of Clinical Quality and Governance and Nicky’s manager, added: “I am extremely proud of the work and achievement of the Safeguarding team, with special mention to Nicky. She is the living embodiment of our HUC values and always goes the extra mile (or two) for her colleagues and our patients.

“The new Safeguarding referral hub, although in its infancy, has been widely praised by our ICB and Local Authority partners. It has significantly improved the provision of safeguarding resources and support across our footprint. My heartfelt thanks go to the entire team — you are truly shining stars!”