Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast. My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be talking to you about safeguarding.

And if you want to follow along with written notes on this topic, you can follow along at zero tofinals.com slash safeguarding or in the development section of the Zero to Finals Pediatrics book.

So let's get straight into it.

Safeguarding involves all aspects of ensuring the welfare of a child.

Child protection involves the process of protecting a child that is at risk of or is suffering from harm.

The legal framework for child safeguarding is the Children Act 1989.

A child in need refers to a child that's likely to need supportive services

to maintain their health and development or is disabled.

Safeguarding is an essential part of the role of anyone who works with children.

By nature, children are more vulnerable to abuse

and do not have the means to protect themselves or look out for themselves.

It's our responsibility as healthcare professionals to take a child-centered approach

and always look out for the best interests of the child.

This is a summary and overview to help your basic understanding for exams and is not a substitute for safeguarding training

that you may require for clinical practice. When you have any safeguarding concerns,

always discuss these with an experienced senior colleague who can advise you on the appropriate course of action.

Types of abuse.

A common exam question involves identifying the types of abuse.

These are physical, emotional, sexual, neglect, and in adults there can also be financial and identity abuse.

There are a few risk factors for abuse that you need to be aware of. Domestic violence in the home is a

risk factor for abuse for everybody in the home. Having a parent that was previously abused

themselves, mental health problems, emotional

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