Soon paediatric dentistry specialty trainees will be able to do child protection training alongside doctors in training, thanks to collaboration between BSPD and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG) and the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
Since 2006 paediatricians in training have had the opportunity to attend a nationally-recognised standardised 1-day child protection training course, Safeguarding children: Recognition and Response in Child Protection (CPRR). The course is administered centrally by ALSG but takes place at regional centres using the agreed course programme and content, with local paediatricians and nurses acting as trainers.
Now a project is underway to adapt the course for paediatric dentists and run a ‘dental stream’ alongside existing courses. This will make use of the existing course materials but with selected sections adapted for dentistry, such as specially developed dental scenarios. The day course uses a variety of small-group teaching methods and benefits from a high trainer to trainee ratio. Learning resources include a pre-course delivered via a virtual learning environment, a course manual, a reader and a DVD. Participants are then required to pass an assessment to successfully complete the course.
Training is now underway for eight nominated BSPD members who will act as trainers on the pilot courses. The first such course will take place in Manchester in April 2012. As soon as details are finalised, specialty trainees in paediatric dentistry will be invited to apply for places. Further courses are expected to run during 2012, after which the project will be fully evaluated.