Anaesthesia | Paediatrics | Safeguarding Children - Local Procedures

Safeguarding Children - Local Procedures
Session Overview
Description
The role of the anaesthetist in caring for children who are known or suspected to be victims of abuse; explaining local child protection procedures with reference to the joint RCPCH/RCoA/APA guideline ‘Child Protection And The Anaesthetist: Safeguarding Children In The Operating Theatre’.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Recognize that safeguarding children is the responsibility of all healthcare professionals, including anaesthetists
• Evaluate situations in which anaesthetists may encounter child abuse Interpret local safeguarding children procedures
• Appraise the need for a multidisciplinary approach and understand the roles of the other team members
• Identify the need for excellent communication and documentation

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should:

• Employ the need for anaesthetists to play a role in safeguarding children
• Complete session ANA_4B_023 Level 1 child protection training

Anaesthetists of all grades frequently encounter children during the course of their work. Safeguarding children from abuse is not usually uppermost in the minds of anaesthetists but it should form an important part of our work – child protection is the responsibility of all healthcare professionals and not the sole preserve of paediatricians.

Considering the possibility of child abuse is the first step in diagnosing it. By doing this it may be possible to make a real difference to the health and well being of abused children and prevent untold suffering.

Understanding what constitutes child abuse and how it can be recognised, is covered in more detail in Session Level 1 Child Protection Training Module. This session will look at how actual or suspected child abuse may present to the anaesthetist and the local procedures for dealing with it.