Safeguarding protects the needs and welfare of children and protects children from abuse and neglect. Professional healthcare workers must fully understand their responsibilities for safeguarding the children under their care and under the care of adults receiving services.
The Safeguarding Children (Level 2) e-Learning discussed the importance of safeguarding and the need to share information with other professional agencies in order to safeguard the welfare of children. The module describes how the needs and welfare of children are assessed and defines maltreatment and significant harm.
The statutory responsibilities of health and social care in relation to Looked After Children are discussed in respect of the additional needs and increased and continued vulnerability of these children.
The e-learning module illustrates potential physical, psychological and social indicators of different forms of child abuse, neglect and sexual exploitation as well as discussing fabricated induced illness (FII) and the necessity to exercise professional judgement when considering whether abuse may be suspected.
The module discusses potential sources of safeguarding concerns and forms of disclosure; describes the necessity to share information with other professionals and agencies when it is in the best interests of the child; and illustrates the inter-agency referral procedures to be followed.
The e-learning module used a selection of case studies to illustrate how safeguarding concerns may be identified and how these concerns may be communicated to the appropriate agencies and the referral process completed.