This is a distance learning module offered to health care practitioners. Health care practitioners have a statutory duty to safeguard children and this short credit enables health care staff, particularly aimed at enabling medical students and newly qualified health professionals such as doctors, nurses, clinical commissioners, to build their knowledge and understanding of child protection in the UK. Teaching will be through virtual learning platforms with set days where live teaching blocks are offered. This course is especially suitable to professionals who have little time to undertake extensive degree programmes as they are already working fulltime/parttime within the health care profession and provides an opportunity to undertake continued professional development. It will build professional’s understanding of child maltreatment, the role of health care staff in safeguarding children from harm. It will instil an understanding of the responsibilities, rights and codes of practice in protecting children and will provide an insight into what multi-agency cooperation, robust assessment and effective interventions will look like and will draw on varied theoretical perspectives, mainly emphasising the importance of child centred practice in child protection.
Contact Hours: 32
Standalone module
Written assignment essay (2000-words) – 50%
15-minute oral presentation - 50%
The University is committed to ensuring that core reading materials are in accessible electronic format in line with the Kent Inclusive Practices. The most up to date reading list for each module can be found on the university's reading list pages. Department of Education (2018). Working Together to Safeguard Children. London. Foster, D. (2020) An overview of child protection legislation in England. Briefing paper Number 6787. House of Commons Library. General Medical Council (2012) Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all doctors. [Accessed 06 April 2022]. [Accessed from: www.gmc-uk.org/guidance] Green, P. (2019). The role of designated and named professionals in child safeguarding. Paediatrics and child health, 29 (1), pp. 1-5. Horwath, J. and Platt, D. (Ed.) 2018. The Child's World: The Essential Guide to Assessing Vulnerable Children, Young People and Their Families, Third Edition. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Lefevre, M., Hickle, K., Luckock, B. and Ruch, G. (2017). Building trust with children and young people at risk of child sexual exploitation: The professional challenge. British Journal of Social Work, 47(8), pp. 2456-2473. Meadows, P. Tunstill, J. George, A. Dhudwar, A. and Kurt, Z (2011) The costs and consequences of child maltreatment. London: NSPCC. Neil, P. Hodson, D. and Taylor, J. (2019). Collaborative practice and participation: Early help to child protection. In Horwath, J. and Platt, D. (eds) The Child's World. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, pp. 159-175. NICE (2017) Child abuse and neglect – NICE guideline [NG 76). [Accessed on 06 April 2022] [Accessed from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng76] Rogowski, S. (2015) From Child Welfare to Child Protection/Safeguarding: A Critical Practitioner's View of Changing Conceptions, Policies and Practice, Practice, 27:2, 97-112. Wilkins, D. Shemmings, D. and Pasco, C. (2019) Child abuse – An evidence base for confident practice, Fifth edition
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 Possess a systematic understanding of child maltreatment and neglect and an appreciation of the role medical professionals in safeguarding children.
8.2 Demonstrate an understanding of, and ability to apply the main legal and professional responsibilities of a health care practitioner when working with children and families
8.3 Develop a thorough understanding of effective communication with range of people, including effective engagement and intervention with children/young people and caregivers
8.4 Develop relevant expertise and theoretical knowledge (including complex systems and attachment perspectives) maintaining a clear focus on a child centred approach
8.5 Possess a critical understanding of the importance of multi-disciplinary working and culturally competent reflective practice in child protection practice.
8.6 Build critical thinking abilities around assessment and intervention in child protection.
8.7 Have a conceptual understanding of child protection and safeguarding issues that enables learners to critically evaluate research evidence and its application to practice.
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