Child protection: From examination to court [CPEC] (Level 3)
The RCPCH has developed this two day course in conjunction with medical and legal experts who bring vast amounts of experience from within the safeguarding sector.
What is the course about?
Paediatricians have a key role in both providing written evidence and presenting as a professional witness in family, criminal or civil proceedings in child protection cases.
The RCPCH has developed this two day course in conjunction with medical and legal experts who bring vast amounts of experience from within the safeguarding sector.
They will work with you to understand the structure, language and specifications of professional witness reports expected by different court systems, using a report you will be required to submit in advance as part of this course.
You will also be given the opportunity to testify in a mock trial scenario with dedicated legal experts providing guidance and feedback to help build your confidence.
In addition, you will learn more about key areas of knowledge in child protection, such as consent and performing examinations, ensuring you are equipped to deal with all common concerns that arise in child protection cases.
Target Audience
- Paediatric trainees ST6-8
- SAS doctors
- Consultant paediatricians
Learning Aims, Objectives and Outcomes:
Aim:
To equip paediatricians involved in child protection cases with the skills to gather evidence as part of clinical practice and effectively present this within professional witness reports and court testimony.
Outcome:
By the end of this course you will be able to:
- Produce professional witness reports to the court’s required specifications
- Testify in court as a professional witness with the skills and confidence required to provide the best possible outcomes for the child
- Deal with common child protection concerns that arise in your clinical practice
Why come to the course?
- You will also be given the opportunity to testify in a mock trial scenario with dedicated legal experts providing guidance and feedback to help build your confidence.
- You will learn more about key areas of knowledge in child protection, such as consent and performing examinations, ensuring you are equipped to deal with all common concerns that arise in child protection cases.
- You will work alongside medical and legal experts with a wide range of experience in the safeguarding sector in order to support you in understanding the structure, language and specifications of professional witness reports expected by different court systems.
Faculty Lead
Dr Vicki Walker
RCPCH Assistant Officer for Child Protection
Dr Walker is a Consultant Paediatrician in Mansfield and the Designated Dr 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 continues to work at a national level jointly with the RCN, NNDHP and CoramBAAF.
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 in April 2022.
Delegate feedback
Really fantastic course, range of resources and the different teaching vs workshops was really good. The court practice was very useful, and the day was just run so well.
The cross-examination experience and discussion with the legal team outside of the simulated courtroom was a unique opportunity