RCGP Safeguarding toolkit
The aim of this toolkit is to enhance the safeguarding knowledge and skills that GPs already have to enable them to continue to effectively safeguard children and young people, as well as adults at risk of harm.
Part 1: Professional safeguarding responsibilities
Safeguarding across the four UK nations
Safeguarding responsibilities apply to everyone working in healthcare in all of the four UK nations. Each nation has their own safeguarding legislation and guidance which all staff in general practice should be aware of in the nation in which they work. Key legislation and guidance for each UK nation are shown below.
England
Legislation
- Children Act 1989.
- Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.
- Children Act 2004.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- The Care Act 2014.
- Children and Social Work Act 2017.
- Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
Further details about child protection legislation and guidance in England regarding children can be found on the NSPCC website.
Guidance
- Department for Education. Working together to safeguard children. Updated 2024.
- HM Government. What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused. Advice for practitioners. 2015.
- Home Office. Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation – procedural information. 2016.
- HM Government. Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation. 2020.
- Department of Health and Social Care. Care and support statutory guidance. Updated 2024.
- Department for Constitutional Affairs. Mental Capacity Act 2005. Code of Practice. 2007.
- Department for Education. Information Sharing. Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services for children, young people, parents and carers. 2024.
Northern Ireland
Legislation
- The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.
- Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.
- The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007.
- Safeguarding Board Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
- Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.
- Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 and Mental Capasity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 by Department of Health.
Further details about child protection legislation and guidance in Northern Ireland regarding children can be found on the NSPCC website.
Guidance
- Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland. Procedures Manual. Updated 2023.
- Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and and the Department of Justice. Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Protection in Partnership. 2015.
- Multi-agency practice guidelines: Female Genital Mutilation.
Scotland
Legislation
- Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.
- Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act
- The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007).
- Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024.
Further details about child protection legislation and guidance in Scotland regarding children can be found on the NSPCC website.
Guidance
- Scottish Government. Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007: guidance for General Practice. 2022.
- Scottish Government. Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007: Code of Practice. 2022.
- Scottish Government. Adults with incapacity: guide to assessing capacity. 2008.
- Scottish Government. NHS Public Protection Accountability and Assurance Framework. 2022.
- Scottish Gorvernment. Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) - Statutory Guidance - Assessment of Wellbeing 2022 – Part 18 (section 96) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. 2022.
- Scottish Government. National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021. Updated 2023.
- Scottish Government. Responding to female genital mutilation: multi-agency guidance. 2017.
- National Trauma Transformation Programme. Homepage of NTTP. Responding to Psychological Trauma in Scotland.
Wales
Legislation
- Children Act 1989.
- Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.
- Children Act 2004.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
- Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015.
Further details about child protection legislation and guidance in Wales regarding children can be found on the NSPCC website.
Guidance
- Social Care Wales. Wales Safeguarding Procedures. 2024.
- Welsh Government. Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. Working Together to Safeguard People: Code of Safeguarding Practice. 2022.
- Welsh Government. Safeguarding Guidance. Updated 2024.
- Home Office. Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation – procedural information. 2016.
- HM Government. Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation. 2020.
- Department for Constitutional Affairs. Mental Capacity Act 2005. Code of Practice. 2007.