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Summary of safeguarding knowledge and capabilities

There are five different key areas of safeguarding knowledge and capabilities on which the RCGP safeguarding standards are built. Each of these areas is fundamental to effective safeguarding in general practice.

1. Professional safeguarding responsibilities

  • Understanding statutory, legal, professional and employment safeguarding responsibilities and duties, including the obligation to act when there is a safeguarding concern
  • Preventing abuse and neglect as far as possible through timely action and intervention
  • Accounting for the influence of personal beliefs, experience and attitudes
  • Maintaining individual wellbeing
  • Supporting colleague wellbeing

2. Identification of abuse and neglect

  • Recognising indicators and signs of all types of abuse and neglect in children and adults
  • Identifying children and adults who may be more vulnerable to abuse and neglect
  • Applying principles of consent, confidentiality and capacity in relation to safeguarding
  • Mitigating barriers to healthcare faced by victims and survivors of abuse
  • Understanding the lifelong impact of abuse
  • Learning from those with lived experience of abuse
  • Practicing in a trauma informed way
  • Applying relevant legislation
  • Being vigilant and addressing organisational / institutional abuse / neglect

3. Responding to abuse and neglect

  • Acting when there is a safeguarding concern
  • Talking to children, adults, families, parents and carers about abuse
  • Following local referral processes for child and adult safeguarding 
  • Contributing to the lifelong holistic care needed by victims and survivors of abuse
  • Seeking advice and guidance and escalating concerns when necessary
  • Promptly acting on, and responding appropriately to, any concerns or allegations about persons in a position of trust

4. Documenting safeguarding concerns and information

  • Documenting safeguarding concerns accurately and safely in the patient record
  • Managing safeguarding documents in line with best practice in information governance and data protection
  • Proactively addressing safeguarding challenges of patient online access including coercion to access records

5. Information sharing and multiagency working

  • Participating in multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working
  • Sharing information appropriately and proactively in a safeguarding context
  • Contributing to safeguarding reviews 
  • Learning from safeguarding serious case reviews (local and national)