Safeguarding Children



GMC consultation on Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all doctors (5th July 2011)

The GMC have developed draft guidance on this important and sensitive issue to help doctors feel confident in raising and acting on concerns about the safety and welfare of children and young people. You can read the draft guidance and questionnaires and take part in the consultation online at www.gmc-uk.org/childprotection. The consultation will run until Friday 14 October 2011.

 

CEM Standards and Best Practice Guidance

The College has developed a set of clinical standards and a best practice statment to outline the steps Emergency Departments should take to ensure adequate awareness and safe management of child protection issues on two levels:

  1. Safety Net Systems
  2. Individual cases

Some differences may exist in Wales, Scotland and N Ireland, but the main principles will be the same. 

We welcome the recommendations of Lord Lamingi

  • “The Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families must strengthen current guidance and put in place the systems and training so that staff in Emergency Departments are able to tell if a child has recently presented at any Emergency Department, and if a child is the subject of a Child Protection Plan”.
  • “If there is any cause for concern, staff must act accordingly, contacting other professionals, conducting further medical examinations of the child as appropriate and necessary, and ensuring no child is discharged whilst concerns for their safety or well-being remain”.

Please download the standards and best practice guidance here:

Standards for Safeguarding Children

Best Practice for Safeguarding Children

 

Working Together to Safeguard Children

On the 17 March 2010 the Government launched revised statutory guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children, which comes into force with immediate effect.

Working Together sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004.

 

Further Information

1. NICE has published guidance on when to suspect child maltreatment (CG89) in July 2009. The guidance is available to download from the NICE website: http://www.nice.org.uk/CG89

2. In July 2009 the Care Quality Commission published a review of arrangments for safeguarding children in NHS Trusts. The review can be downloaded from the CQC website: http://www.cqc.org.uk/guidanceforprofessionals/healthcare/nhsstaff/specialreviews/2008/09/safeguardingchildren.cfm

3. Services for Children in Emergency Departments: Report of the Intercollegiate Committee for
Services for Children in Emergency Departments (April 2007)

4. Maximising Nursing Skills in Caring for Children in Emergency Departments (March 2010) Royal College of Nursing