Child Protection in Scotland: From examination to court (Level 3) – online
On this course, you will learn about the structure, language, specifications and usage of medical reports that support good decision making at different stages of the child protection process (including court proceedings).
What is the course about?
Paediatricians have a key role in providing written medical reports that are used to make multiagency decisions in child protection cases and which may also require presenting as a professional witness in family, criminal or civil proceedings.
On this course, you will learn about the structure, language, specifications (including those expected by different court systems) and usage of medical reports that support good decision making at different stages of the child protection process.
You will be given the opportunity to testify in a mock trial scenario (using a report you will have written as part of the course) 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, ensuring you are equipped to deal with all common concerns that arise in child protection cases.
This course supports delegates to meet their Level 3 safeguarding competencies as outlined by the Intercollegiate document.
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 2026.
Target audience
- Paediatric specialty trainees ST5-7
- SAS and locally employed doctors
- Consultant paediatricians
Course aim and learning outcomes:
Aim:
To equip paediatricians with the skills to gather evidence to create medical reports that support effective decision making at all stages of the child protection process in Scotland including court proceedings.
Learning outcomes:
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.
Faculty lead
Dr Marianne Forrester
Chair of The Royal College of Paediatrics Child Protection Scottish Committee.
Dr Marianne Forrester has been qualified since 1997 and has been working in Child Protection for 17 years. Her specific training has been in Child Abuse and Neglect and she has been working as a Consultant Paediatrician in Child Protection for over 13 years. She is currently Lead Paediatrician for Child Protection in NHS Grampian and has been in this role for 12 years. She was the Clinical Lead for the North of Scotland Child Protection MCN for 3 years until January 2020. Dr Forrester delivers Child Protection Training on behalf of The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and has been the Chair of the RCPCH Child Protection (Scotland) Subcommittee since January 2019.
Delegate feedback
This was an area I was nervous about as a trainee approaching new consultant stages. I feel immensely more prepared, mostly in understanding what is expected of me, and how to deliver relevant and useful information when required for courts.
The mock trials were especially good - you can learn skills on paper but putting them to use was incredibly helpful.