Frequently asked questions for adult and child safeguarding
Why has the safeguarding requirements changed?
Intercollegiate documents and the RCGP supplementary guidance, which has had four-nation approval, have recently been updated and published. In addition several GP practices have been criticised during CQC inspections for their GP trainees not being up to date with both level 3 adult and children safeguarding. The previous guidance on safeguarding for GP trainees was vague as to when this needed to be done and many trainees were not completing this until the end of training. There was also no requirement for adult safeguarding during GP training.
Do I have to complete the requirements as detailed in the Intercollegiate documents?
You need to be aware of these documents but they are based on a certain number of hours, which need to be completed. The RCGP curriculum and its assessment requirements will need you to document your understanding and experiences in adult and child safeguarding but not the amount of time it has taken you do this.
What are the minimum requirements?
Child & Adult Safeguarding level 3 certification, you also need to demonstrate some form of knowledge update in your ePortfolio annually and a reflective log entry on both adult and child safeguarding.
How do I demonstrate my knowledge?
This can be done through elearning, attending local workshops, looking at the RCGP toolkits. There is a list of activities on the RCGP website as to how this can be done. For example attending a single workshop if it covered both adult and child safeguarding would be sufficient to cover both areas. The knowledge update needs to be done early in each training year and not left until the end. ELearning will be accepted for the length of the pandemic.
Do adult safeguarding modules at level 3 exist as I haven’t been able to find one?
Trainees need to be compliant in adult safeguarding at level 3, it is available from eLearning for healthcare or if you are in a practice placement you may have access to Blue Stream Academy.
It is not expected for you to pay personally for a commercial level 3 adult safeguarding course.
If I haven’t been directly involved in a safeguarding case, how do I write a reflective entry?
It is recognised that not every trainee will be directly involved in clinical cases on safeguarding, but this can be achieved through attending local safeguarding meetings, group discussions, webinars, reading about cases for example.
I am in ST1 but I don't have a GP placement during this time, do I have to complete the child safeguarding requirements?
If you have placements, which involve children for example Paediatrics, Accident and Emergency, Primary care, Child Psychiatry etc then you will need to have completed the child safeguarding requirements and demonstrated these in your Portfolio. If your placements for that year do not involve children it would still be best practice to complete Child Safeguarding, as you could come in to contact with children in the hospital or relatives of patients.
It is recognised that if the trainee does not have any posts within a specific training year which include children then although it would be still recommended for these trainees to understand and document their learning about child safeguarding this would not be mandatory.
I am in ST1 but I don't do Primary Care until my last post in ST1. The requirements state that I need to demonstrate my knowledge in child safeguarding early in the training year but does this apply to me?
As above you wouldn't need to demonstrate your understanding in safeguarding until you started a post which involved children, so although you wouldn't be doing this at the beginning of your ST1 time, it would need to be done at the start of your Primary care post and not left until it was nearly over.
I completed adult and child safeguarding in my foundation post, do I need to do it again?
Yes - the requirements are for a knowledge update in each year of training ST1/2/3 and a reflective entry for both adult and child safeguarding.
I am a ST3 trainee what do I have to do before my next ARCP?
Certifcates for Level 3 safeguarding for both adult and child safeguarding should be attached to the Compliance Passport of ePortfolio.
A knowledge update annually needs to include a demonstration of their knowledge, key safeguarding information and the appropriate action to take if there are any concerns. In addition, all trainees require a minimum of one participatory piece of learning and reflection for both adult and child safeguarding in each training year. Evidence of learning for both the knowledge component and reflective exercises need to be documented in the trainees learning log
I am a ST1/2 trainee what do I have to do before my next ARCP?
Where possible certifcates for Level 3 safeguarding for both adult and child safeguarding should be attached to the Compliance Passport of ePortfolio within the 1st 6 months of ST1.
It is recognised that if the trainee does not have any posts within a specific training year which include children then although it would be still recommended for these trainees to understand and document their learning about child safeguarding this would not be mandatory.
A knowledge update and reflective entries on child & adult safeguarding will be required.