27.10.14
GPs on alert for signs of radicalisation, trafficking and cyber-bullying in children
Family doctors should be on the lookout for signs of radicalisation, trafficking or cyber-bullying in child patients, according to the Royal College of GPs.
The advice comes as part of the new child safeguarding guidance from the College, which is included in a new toolkit put together with the NSPCC.
The RCGP say that it “reflects the changing landscape of general practice, with GPs on the frontline of increasingly complex health and societal challenges”.
“All professionals who come into contact with children and their families have a responsibility to safeguard and promote their welfare, and should know what to do if they have concerns about a child,” the statement from the college continues.
GPs and their teams, along with health visitors, school nurses and midwives, play a key role in ensuring that children, young people and families get the care, help and support they need, when they need it. They also offer ‘early help’ by providing care directly or signposting and referring to other services.
As well as highlighting newer safeguarding challenges such as Female Genital Mutilation and forced marriage, the new RCGP and NSPCC guidance also covers more conventional aspects of child safeguarding with sections on neglect, physical abuse and caring for children with disabilities.
RCGP chair, Maureen Baker, said that children are facing unprecedented pressures at a young and younger age. The internet and social media have opened them up to threats such as cyber-bullying and revenge porn and this leaves them at a higher risk of being harmed or exploited.
“The unique relationship that GPs have with our patients means that we build up their trust and confidence over time and this places us in an ideal position to identify potential risks to the physical and mental health of our young people, along with the legal and safeguarding protocols and support networks that are available to them,” she added.
“As GPs we are trained to treat the ‘whole person’ and that means now taking into account a number of societal, as well as health, factors.
“A consultation with a GP may be the only time that young people can be alone with a trusted adult and we have a number of roles to play in providing understanding, compassion and support.”
According to latest figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), 43,140 children were subject to a child protection plan and 68,110 children were ‘looked after’ in England in 2013.
Dawn Hodson, the NSPCC’s neglect development manager said: “GPs play a very significant role in keeping children safe, previous NSPCC research found that for every child subject to a child protection plan or on a child protection register, we estimate that another eight have suffered maltreatment. GPs see these children on a daily basis and the NSPCC is very pleased to be involved in a Toolkit which can support GPs in identifying and responding appropriately to these vulnerable children.”
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