CP
CareerPro UK
CPD Courses / Online course

Safeguarding Children and Young People

Introduction

Every NHS doctor has safeguarding duties — including in adult specialties — and panels ask about them. Be ready before your first shift.

  • Based on the newest guidance: Working Together 2026 and NICE's December 2025 update
  • Clear actions for real situations: bruising in babies, FGM, domestic abuse, 'Think Family'
  • Shows interviewers you understand UK law and practice that may differ from home
Length
60 min
Slides
26
Quiz
15 questions
Pass mark
12/15
Studying
Free
Certificate
£5

Your progress is saved on this device. You only pay if you pass the quiz and want the certificate.

A doctor examining a young boy with his mother present
On your CV — Courses and CPD
Safeguarding Children and Young People — online CPD course, CareerPro UK (60 min). Certificate of completion, October 2026; verifiable online, ID CP-XXXXXXXX.
Prepares you for questions like
“What would you do if you were worried that a child was at risk of harm?”

A practical course on protecting children for doctors working, or preparing to work, in the NHS — in every specialty, including adult services. Covers the four categories of abuse, how to recognise maltreatment using NICE guidance (including bruising in babies who are not independently mobile), listening to children, 'Think Family', domestic abuse, FGM and the mandatory reporting duty, exploitation and online harm, consent and Gillick competence, information sharing, making a referral, what happens next (section 17 and 47, conferences), documentation, allegations against staff, and UK law and practice that may differ from your home country.

What you'll learn

  • Explain safeguarding and child protection and the legal framework in England
  • Recognise the four categories of abuse and the warning signs NICE describes
  • Respond correctly to bruising in a baby who is not independently mobile
  • Apply 'Think Family' when treating adults who are parents or carers
  • Act on domestic abuse, FGM (including the mandatory reporting duty), exploitation and online harm
  • Use Gillick competence and share information lawfully to protect a child
  • Make a clear referral to children's social care and understand what happens next
  • Document concerns well and know where to get advice, including for concerns about colleagues

Course outline

  1. Foundations: what safeguarding means
  2. Recognising abuse and neglect
  3. Specific forms of harm
  4. Children, consent and information sharing
  5. Taking action: referral and what happens next
  6. Practice, records and your career
Before you start

This is an independent study guide to safeguarding children, written in our own words from publicly available UK guidance (mainly Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, GMC guidance and NICE CG89). It does not replace the safeguarding children training your employer requires (Levels 1–3 under the Intercollegiate Document), and it is not legal advice. Arrangements differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Always follow your local safeguarding partnership's procedures and speak to your named or designated safeguarding professional.

CareerPro UK is an independent education provider. Our courses are not produced, endorsed, approved or accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC), the NHS, NICE, any Royal College or any other official body, and we are not affiliated with them. Courses are study guides written in our own words from publicly available guidance. They do not replace the official guidance, which can change — always check the current version (e.g. at gmc-uk.org and nice.org.uk). They are not legal or professional advice: for a specific situation, follow your employer's policies and speak to your seniors or your medical defence organisation.

Content last reviewed: October 2026.