Article Text
PDF
Abstract
Aim This project was undertaken to assess whether adequate training is being delivered to the trainees in our deanery and to identify what trainees expected from the programme.
Methods All paediatric trainees from our deanery were offered the opportunity to participate in this web-based study.
Results Anonymous responses were received from 152/244 (62.2%) paediatric trainees. Level 3 safeguarding training had been completed by 75% (n = 115) of trainees. Nearly 60% (n = 92) of the responders had undertaken some form of safeguarding update in the last 6 months. 31% (n = 46) trainees had not received any training on safeguarding report writing. 65% (n = 97) did not feel confident to write a report/statement with respect to safeguarding. Forty four (44%) tier 2 trainees did not have level 3 safeguarding training before entering ST4. Only 15% (n = 23) responders had been to court as part of safeguarding training. The most common trainee suggestions to improve safeguarding training were:
Increasing the frequency of safeguarding study days.
Increasing access to peer review meetings.
In-house training on report writing and attending strategy meetings.
Junior trainees to be involved in safeguarding case management and given the opportunity for mock report writing of cases seen.
Standardise regional training so as to avoid repetition whilst changing hospitals.
To facilitate study leave for attending Court sessions.
Clarify requirements at each level of training.
Five reports each year for registrars, having a log book for safeguarding cases.
To develop a regional/national guide to report writing.
Conclusion In accordance to our study many paediatric trainees don’t feel confident in dealing with safe guarding cases. The future paediatricians find giving evidence in court very stressful and challenging. Therefore, we recommend that trainees should be encouraged to attend court sessions involving safe guarding cases.
It has been shown that training can improve knowledge and competence in dealing with safeguarding cases. The suggestions of our trainees emphasise the areas where the current training programme is deficient. The training programme for safeguarding children needs to be improvised and needs to be learner centred.
