Introduction to Safeguarding Children Training

Safeguarding Children – A Beginner’s Guide (with acknowledgements to Wessex LMCs)

RCGP supplementary guide to safeguarding training requirements for all primary care staff

Although the intercollegiate document “Safeguarding Children and Young people: roles and competences for health care staff” (September 2010) guidance is not yet enshrined in regulations the LMC view is that as the GMC, NMC and CQC begin to apply their standards it would be better to be ahead of the game and be prepared. Therefore all practices should have an education and training programme and comprehensive annual record for each staff member and all GPs will be expected to be trained to level 3.

Level 1: All non-clinical staff must have some training about safeguarding children – this must include all staff that work in a practice. It concerns the recognition of the various forms of abuse: physical, emotional & sexual and understanding and:

Level 2: All non-clinical and clinical staff that come into contact with children and young people. The competencies for level one plus awareness of:

Level 3: All GPs will now need to be trained and have the skills and competencies for level one and two together with training in:

Education and Training Requirements

As stated at the outset it is to be expected that the GMC and the Nursing and Midwifery Council will require evidence of training to the expected level and the continuing refreshment and updating of core skills through revalidation

It will then be expected that all staff have training every three years as a minimum requirement but this should be tailored to the role they fulfil. E-Learning is appropriate training for level 1 and 2 and can be used for level 3 but at level 3 there should also be some team-based learning.

In addition safeguarding leads should circulate regular updates in a written format (probably by e-mail), for example, concerning changes in legislation or local procedures or personnel.

Clinicians should be involved in case-based discussions, significant event reviews and experiential learning where relevant to children and young people.

Further recommendations from the national guidance:

LMC recommendations

Regular staff training should therefore include updates on safeguarding and an individual rolling annual record kept. This could be by using an e-learning module individually or as a resource used to help group discussion. Furthermore practices should have a regular clinical meeting (minimum of six monthly and preferably quarterly) to discuss Children At Risk, Looked After Children, etc. and as part of this meeting the opportunity should be taken to cascade information and update skills and knowledge. This could be done simply by the named GP meeting with health visitors and disseminating information to other attached staff.

The e-learning for healthcare has a number of safeguarding modules available on the e-LfH website. There are good modules on the BMA and RCGP websites too.

Regarding GP training the LMC believes that the rigid “two hours over three years” is not consistent with the five year revalidation cycle. We have received advice from the GPC which advises that there is no requirement for a formal update at an educational meeting. However GPs would be wise to be able to show equivalent learning of approximately two hours annually. Most GPs can do this evidencing cases they have dealt with, personal study, summary of cascaded information and any dealings they have had with HVs or other agencies regarding safeguarding concerns along with suitable reflections.

Further Guidance & Helpful Links

Blue Stream Academy part of the LMCs buying group have several safeguarding courses

The latest government guidance is contained in the document Working Together To Safeguard Children (2015)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2

Appendix 3 contains a comprehensive list of links including to the “Safeguarding Children and Young people: roles and competences for health care staff” intercollegiate document (September 2010) which gives details of the three levels referred to above.

 

 

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