Child protection resources
Further to the resources and references throughout the Child Protection Companion, this page includes a list of the RCPCH child protection resources and standards.
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Child protection and the anaesthetist
This document - published by Royal College of Anaesthetists in partnership with the RCPCH, Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, and Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain - aims to assist anaesthetists and theatre personnel where safeguarding concerns are raised during the course of a routine anaesthetic or perioperative care.
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Child protection service delivery standards
Published in 2020, these are good practice service delivery standards for the management of children referred for child protection medical assessments.
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If you have a concern about a child’s safety or welfare
If you have a concern about a child’s safety or welfare contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000. You can call Monday-Friday between 8am-10pm or weekends between 9am-6pm. Or you can email them at help@nspcc.org.uk.
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Key principles for intimate clinical assessments undertaken remotely
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption and utilisation of online and video consultations as part of core clinical practice. This guidance focuses on how to safely manage the receipt, storage and use of intimate images taken by patients for clinical purposes.
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Intercollegiate roles and responsibilities
All healthcare staff must have the competences to recognise child maltreatment and to take effective actions.
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Looked After Children (LAC) – resources and guidance
This term typically denotes children cared for by Government, though exact definitions vary between the four nations. More than 93,000 children in the UK are in care, 70,000 in England. Most are taken into care over fears of abuse or neglect. They are vulnerable to health inequalities, and exhibit significantly higher rates of mental health issues, emotional disorders (anxiety and depression), hyperactivity and autistic spectrum disorder conditions.
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Medical experts in the family courts
Published in October 2020, this is the final report from the President of the Family Division Working Group on Medical Experts in the Family Courts. It makes 22 recommendations aimed at reducing expert shortages.
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Perplexing Presentations (PP)/Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) in children – guidance
This guidance, published in March 2021, provides best practice advice for paediatricians in the medical management of PP and FII cases to obtain better outcomes for children.
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Physical signs of child sexual abuse
Also known as the ‘purple book’, this guidance includes good practice in relation to the paediatric forensic examination where there are concerns about child sexual abuse. It also provides an evidenced-based review of the interpretation of physical signs.
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RCPCH Progress curriculum – resources on the safeguarding domain
The RCPCH curriculum ensures that doctors in postgraduate paediatric training in the UK develop their knowledge and skills across key practice areas, and includes a domain especially on safeguarding. These resources were developed by and with trainees.
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Other child protection resources
References to sources and additional information on the topic of child protection.
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Key resources
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Child Protection Companion
Your handbook on all forms of child abuse, looking across the whole range of medical and social interactions: from examination, to identification, to referral, to court.
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Evidence & reviews
Child Protection Evidence is our evidence-based resource for clinicians in the UK and internationally helps inform clinical practice, child protection procedures and professional and expert opinion in the legal system.
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Educational opportunities in safeguarding
We work to protect children from harm by providing paediatricians and other child health professionals with essential competencies in their child protection practice. This page introduces learning opportunities and guidance.
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