Child protection and safeguarding

Child protection plays a role in everything we do as child health professionals, and is about protecting individual children identified as suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect. Safeguarding is broader, and about how we ensure children grow up in a safe environment. Explore our resources, news and courses.
Family of adult and two children

Child Protection Portal - your essential resource

The Portal aims to inform clinical practice, child protection procedures and professional and expert opinion in the legal system.

Some of its content, including our Child Protection Companion, is only available to College members (as part of your subscription) or to individual or organisational subscribers.

Child Protection Companion
Your handbook on all forms of child abuse - looks across the whole range of medical and social interactions: from examination, to identification, to referral, to court. Available to members and subscribers.
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.
Child protection continues to evolve, with particular changes over the last 10 years. We aim to provide doctors with the essential competencies through courses and eLearning.
Aids clinical decision-making in examining children referred for evaluation of possible sexual abuse - available to purchase or free to members who are named and designated doctors for safeguarding children.
Sll healthcare staff must have the competencies to recognise child maltreatment, opportunities to improve childhood wellbeing and to take effective action as appropriate to their role.
Responsible for championing the safeguarding agenda for children and young people. It advises on matters relating to child protection – preventing violence, exploitation and abuse against children.