Child Protection and Safeguarding in the UK

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

Evidence & Reviews

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

Standards & Resources

Further to the resources and references throughout the Child Protection Companion, this page includes a comprehensive list of the RCPCH child protection resources

Safeguarding Legislation

The UK’s four nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) each have their own child protection system and laws in place to safeguard and protect children

Child Protection Advocacy

Improving health outcomes through advocacy for children, young people and their families

Educational Opportunities

Learning opportunities and guidance for paediatricians and other child health professionals in the complex and sensitive area of safeguarding

19 June 2020 · News

Companion Updates

Recent updates have been made to chapters 16 (Records and Reports), 18 (Court Proceedings) and 19 (Training and Support) of the Companion to bring them in line with current practice and literature

16 June 2020 · Blogs

New Child Protection Portal: a brilliant resource for a sad subject

12 June 2020 · News

We’ve updated our Companion on the timing of blood investigations for fractures

Changes have been made to our Child Protection Companion's chapter 9, ''Recognition of physical abuse" to accommodate suggested amendments by the British Paediatric and Adolescent Bone Group on the timing of blood investigations for fractures

27 May 2020 · Think Pieces

Safeguarding children is everyone’s business

Often the terms ‘safeguarding’ and ‘child protection’ are used interchangeably, but in fact they are quite distinct. While safeguarding refers to all children, child protection refers distinctly to protecting individual children identified as suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect.

15 May 2020 · News

Update from the RCPCH Child Protection Standing Committee (CPSC)

March/April 2020 update now available