Child safeguarding is one of the most high-pressure, high-stakes responsibilities any UK clinician will ever face. One moment, one sentence from a child, can instantly shift your role from clinician to first responder for protection.

In this essential deep-dive, you’ll learn the exact GMC-aligned, legally correct step-by-step approach to recognising, referring, and documenting safeguarding concerns in children.

We cover:
✅ The core mindset: Believe, protect, record, refer
✅ Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) guidance
✅ The legal thresholds: Section 17 (Child in Need) vs Section 47 (Significant Harm)
✅ Acting on reasonable suspicion — not proof
✅ The absolute red flag: any injury in a pre-mobile infant
✅ What to do when a child discloses abuse directly
✅ When to call 999 immediately
✅ Why consent is NOT required to refer when a child is at risk
✅ The lawful basis for sharing under public interest
✅ How to see the child alone and manage confidentiality safely
✅ The non-negotiables of court-safe documentation
✅ The most dangerous exam and real-world safeguarding traps

You’ll also learn two powerful memory frameworks:
• The Three Qs — Quote, Quick referral, Quiet lawful sharing
• RAPID — Recognise, Act, Protect, Involve, Document

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

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

00:00 — High-stakes clinical disclosure scenario
01:01 — Core safeguarding mindset: Believe, protect, record, refer
01:24 — Legal framework: Working Together 2023
01:54 — Section 47 vs Section 17 thresholds
02:24 — Acting on reasonable suspicion (not proof)
03:00 — Key red flags & clinical warning signs
03:10 — Absolute must-refer: injury in pre-mobile infants
03:40 — Step 1: Immediate safety & police involvement
04:06 — Step 2: Seeing the child alone safely
04:15 — Managing confidentiality properly with children
04:47 — Step 3: Same-day referral to Children’s Social Care
05:11 — Consent myths & lawful information sharing
06:25 — Gold-standard safeguarding documentation
07:06 — Safeguarding mnemonics: Three Qs & RAPID
07:39 — Most dangerous safeguarding traps
08:05 — Secure communication & data protection
08:19 — Final high-yield safeguarding protocol
08:49 — Complex cases: FII & caregiver-generated illness
09:22 — Final take-home safeguarding logic