Supporting Level 4/named and Level 5/designated doctors for looked after children or safeguarding children
This hybrid event, and accompanying pre-course eLearning package, covers a range of key and hot topics relevant to Level 4/named and Level 5/designated doctors working with either looked after children or in paediatric safeguarding in line with the Level 4 and 5 competencies set out in the Intercollegiate Document.
What is the course about?
This two-day hybrid event, and accompanying pre-course eLearning package, covers a range of key and hot topics relevant to Level 4/named and Level 5/designated doctors working with either looked after children or in paediatric safeguarding in line with the Level 4 and 5 competencies set out in the Intercollegiate Documents Looked After Children: Roles and Competencies of Healthcare Staff and Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competencies for Healthcare Staff.
There is the option of attending both days (recommended for those new in role) or solely the second online day (recommended for more experienced clinicians).
Check out our current course listings (opens in same window) to see if this course is open for booking. If it’s not listed, register your interest below.
This course is next scheduled to run in Summer 2026.
Target audience
- Level 4/named and Level 5/designated doctors for looked after children and medical advisers for adoption.
- Level 4/named and Level 5/designated doctors for safeguarding children.
Course aim and learning outcomes:
Aim:
To equip named and designated doctors (with a focus on paediatricians) either working with looked after children or safeguarding children with a comprehensive understanding of their role, and develop the skills needed to fulfil their wide-ranging responsibilities as champions for children and young people’s health and wellbeing in both their organisations and the multi-agency arena.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
[Day 1 only]
• Outline the different responsibilities of your role as a named or designated doctor
• Support colleagues in managing complex clinical cases via professional development processes including supervision and peer review
[Day 1 and Day 2]
• Describe how understanding of key and emerging issues, lessons learned from case reviews and the latest research evidence can be integrated to improve local service provision
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with your multi-agency colleagues
• Identify ways of evaluating local practice based on the sharing of experience with peer professionals
Faculty leads
Dr Vicki Walker
RCPCH Assistant Officer for Child Protection
Dr Vicki Walker is a Consultant Paediatrician in Mansfield and the Designated Doctor for Looked After Children in Nottinghamshire. She was appointed to the RCPCH Child Protection Standing Committee in February 2019 working with the College to support paediatricians, progress training and improve health outcomes for Looked After Children, with an interest in education and migrant health.
She has worked as a Named Dr for safeguarding and is the clinical editor for the eLfH level three safeguarding children. She was appointed as the RCPCH Assistant Officer for Child Protection (Education) in April 2022.
Dr Lynn Snow
RCPCH Looked after children lead
Dr Lynn Snow is a community paediatrician working as Designated Doctor for looked after children for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and has worked with looked after children for over 20 years in various roles (including adoption medical adviser) in various areas of the country. She is currently the RCPCH Looked After Children’s Representative championing Our children in the work of the College in training of paediatricians and Policy and has just completed a Churchill Fellowship researching Post Adoption Depression. She was previously chair of the CoramBAAF National Health advisory committee and has focused on health records for children post adoption working with DHSC and NHSE.
Delegate feedback
I am a fairly new designated doctor - doing this course has given me confidence and resources to be able to understand my role and fulfil my responsibility.
I feel more empowered to represent health and contribute in a more meaningful way in multi professional strategic level meetings as I feel more assured in my knowledge. Thank you.