GMC: Protecting Children and Young People: The Responsibilities of All Doctors: Summary

SJT Textbook: Protecting Children and Young People

Protecting Children and Young People GMC -Safeguarding Duties for Doctors

🎥 Video Lesson (YouTube)

🎧 Podcast Lesson (Spotify / Apple / Amazon)

🎯 THE CORE PRINCIPLE

Protecting children and young people is a core GMC responsibility. Doctors must recognise abuse, neglect, and vulnerability, act early when concerns arise, and collaborate with parents and safeguarding partners. Confidentiality is important, but it is never an absolute barrier to sharing information when a child is at risk of harm.

In the MSRA SJT, high-scoring answers show that you: identify risk factors, communicate sensitively, involve children appropriately, escalate promptly, and share necessary information in line with safeguarding law. Failing to act, delaying, or prioritising parental wishes over safety always scores poorly.

This topic appears frequently in SJT scenarios involving parental refusal, safeguarding concerns, unclear injuries, confidentiality dilemmas, capacity in young people, and multi-agency collaboration.

⚡ HIGH-YIELD ACTIONS (What Scores Points)

1. Identify safeguarding concerns early and act immediately if a child is at risk.
2. Share relevant information with safeguarding partners when justified in the child’s best interests.
3. Adapt communication to children’s and parents’ needs and check understanding.
4. Involve children and young people in decisions appropriate to their age and capacity.
5. Seek advice from safeguarding leads, named professionals, or senior colleagues.
6. Maintain clear, detailed, timely documentation of concerns, decisions, and actions.
7. Obtain consent for examinations and disclosures unless doing so increases risk or is legally unnecessary.
8. Work collaboratively with other agencies and attend safeguarding meetings when required.
9. Respect the child’s confidentiality while recognising when disclosure is essential for safety.
10. Provide impartial and honest evidence to legal processes when involved in court proceedings.

These traps usually involve delaying escalation, prioritising parental preference over safety, or misusing confidentiality.

💬 MODEL PHRASES (Use These in SJT Logic)

* “I will speak with the safeguarding lead for immediate advice.”
* “I will document concerns clearly and escalate without delay.”
* “Your safety is my priority, so I need to act on this information.”
* “I will involve you in decisions in a way that is appropriate to your age.”
* “Only essential information will be shared to protect you.”

S – Share concerns promptly
A – Act in the child’s best interests
F – Form partnerships with safeguarding agencies
E – Explain, examine ethically, and document clearly

📋 QUICK FAQ

Do I need consent to share information about potential abuse?
No. If a child is at risk of significant harm, disclosure is justified in the public interest. Should I tell parents before sharing concerns?
Usually yes, unless doing so increases the risk to the child. Do children have a right to confidential care?
Yes, but safety concerns override this, and information can be shared appropriately. How do I assess capacity in a young person?
Use the child’s maturity, understanding, and ability to weigh information (Gillick competence). What if I’m unsure whether something is safeguarding?
Seek immediate advice from a safeguarding lead or senior colleague.

📚 GMC ANCHOR POINTS

• Best interests first – Protecting children and young people (GMC)
• Share concerns without delay – Safeguarding principles
• Respect but do not prioritise parental wishes over safety
• Maintain confidentiality except where disclosure prevents harm
• Maintain clear, accurate records – Good Medical Practice
• Seek advice and collaborate with agencies – Multi-agency safeguarding duty

💡 MINI PRACTICE SCENARIO

A 5-year-old attends A&E with bruising inconsistent with the history given by the parent. The parent insists it was an accident and refuses further examination or information sharing. Best action: Escalate immediately to safeguarding services and discuss with the paediatric senior. Why: Safety overrides parental refusal; failure to act risks ongoing harm.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS

✓ Safety overrides confidentiality and parental preference
✓ Act early—delays cause harm
✓ Involve children appropriately in decisions
✓ Share information when justified for safeguarding
✓ Document everything clearly
✓ Seek advice when unsure
✓ Work collaboratively with safeguarding partners

🔗 RELATED TOPICS

* → Child Safeguarding
* → Consent and Capacity in Young People
* → Confidentiality and Public Interest Disclosure
* → Professional Boundaries
* → Raising and Acting on Concerns

📖 FULL PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Example SJT — Best of 3 (8 options; choose three)

A 10-year-old girl discloses to you during a consultation that she is being hit at home. She begs you not to tell anyone because she fears things will get worse. Her injuries today are minor, and she appears frightened.

Options:
A. Reassure her you will keep this confidential
B. Explain you must share this to keep her safe
C. Call the safeguarding lead immediately
D. Ask the parent for their account
E. Delay action until the next consultation
F. Document factually and completely
G. Speak to school without informing anyone else
H. Arrange a routine follow-up

Example SJT — Rank 5 (best → worst)

You suspect fabricated or induced illness after repeated hospital attendances with inconsistent histories. The child appears well, but the parent’s narrative raises concern.

Options:
A. Discuss concerns with the safeguarding lead today
B. Document concerns carefully and review with paediatrics
C. Speak privately with the child for additional information
D. Wait to see if further attendances occur
E. Confront the parent directly with your suspicions