Child safeguarding is the highest legal and ethical duty in UK medicine — and few scenarios are as emotionally difficult or as heavily tested in the MSRA SJT as the conflict between Gillick competence, confidentiality, and mandatory protection.

In this powerful deep dive, you will master the exact UK-legal, GMC-aligned framework for acting immediately and lawfully when a child or young person discloses abuse, exploitation, or risk — even when they beg for secrecy.

You will learn:
✅ The legal difference between Section 17 vs Section 47 (Children Act 1989)
✅ Why reasonable suspicion — not proof — triggers duty to act
✅ Why Gillick competence NEVER overrides safeguarding when significant harm is suspected
✅ The absolute rule: never promise secrecy to a child at risk
✅ When to involve police immediately (999 triggers)
✅ Why children must always be seen alone for safeguarding history
✅ How to handle abuse by a person in a position of trust (teachers, carers)
✅ The mandatory dual-referral: MASH + LADO
✅ How to share information lawfully without consent
✅ The minimum necessary information rule
✅ How to create court-safe documentation using verbatim quotes
✅ The complete CHILD SAFE safeguarding mnemonic
✅ The most dangerous MSRA SJT trap answers that cause automatic failure

This episode is essential for:
• MSRA SJT candidates
• Foundation Doctors & GP Trainees
• Paediatric, GP, Emergency & Community clinicians
• Anyone responsible for safeguarding children and young people in the NHS

📎 More MSRA resources to accompany this episode:
https://passthemsra.com

00:00 — High-stakes scenario: 15-year-old discloses sexual abuse by a teacher
01:00 — Why this dilemma defines child safeguarding practice
01:18 — Children Act 1989: Section 17 vs Section 47
02:16 — Early help vs formal child protection
02:43 — Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
03:07 — Acting on reasonable suspicion, not proof
03:42 — Immediate safety first & 999 triggers
04:02 — Seeing the child alone: why privacy is non-negotiable
04:34 — Never promise secrecy: the exact phrases to use
05:18 — Gillick competence vs safeguarding: the critical legal boundary
06:03 — Power imbalance & position of trust abuse
06:28 — Bruising in pre-mobile infants: automatic Section 47 trigger
07:00 — Dual-referral requirement: MASH + LADO
07:44 — First–Next–Last referral pathway
08:36 — Lawful information sharing without consent
09:02 — Secure communication rules
09:10 — Gold-standard safeguarding documentation
09:48 — CHILD SAFE mnemonic explained
10:58 — Three non-negotiable safeguarding principles
11:27 — Maintaining therapeutic trust after referral
12:14 — Final professional & exam-safe message