NCJ Number
221911
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: January-February 2008 Pages: 64-72
Date Published
January 2008
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This report describes an initial audit of the extent of child protection training and knowledge of guidelines throughout a district general hospital and describes subsequent strategies implemented to improve practice.
Abstract
Results of the audit show that while the majority of staff in the pediatric department had child protection training within the last 5 years, fewer nurses than doctors knew how to access child protection information, but more therapists (81 percent) knew how to access guidelines than doctors. Following the initial audit, increased child protection training opportunities within the hospital were established. A greater uptake of training should lead to an improved development of knowledge and competence. However, it is important to recognize that training in child protection is not necessarily a surrogate marker for awareness of guidelines or improved child protection knowledge. In addition, for this to be successful there must be a culture of learning and professional development with ownership of child protection practice from individual staff within the pediatric and other departments. Child protection awareness is essential for anyone who comes into contact with children. For many years repeated inquiries into the deaths of children caused by abuse have stressed the importance of training. The intent of this report is to present the results of an audit which examines the extent of child protection training and knowledge of guidelines within a district general hospital and the potential strategies to improve both training and knowledge. Tables, references