833 Safe NI: safeguarding training in Northern Ireland

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2023-07, Vol.108 (Suppl 2), p.A280-A280
• Main Authors: Catherwood, Natalie, Wallace, Jennifer, Sproule, Ashley, Livingstone, Alison, Moore, Rebecca, Richardson, Julie, Thompson, Andrew
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: At Risk Persons; Blended Learning; Child Abuse; Child Safety; Children; Dentistry; Distance learning; Electronic Learning; Feedback; Forensic science; Instructional Materials; Learning; Pediatrics; Police; Questionnaires; Radiology; Simulation; Trainees; Training
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-rcpch.441

ObjectivesSafeguarding children and young people at risk of harm from abuse and exploitation is a fundamental responsibility of all paediatricians. Paediatricians undertake training to develop the knowledge and skills needed for effective child protection. Feedback following START assessments of the senior paediatric trainees in Northern Ireland highlighted a need for improving safeguarding training. The aim was to develop resources to adequately prepare trainees for practicing child protection within the context of the law in Northern Ireland. Safe NI was designed to provide region-specific training delivered by a multi-professional team of local experts.MethodsWe developed a blended learning course combining online learning and an in-person practical day. The online component consisted of 19 videos from 6 different professions including paediatrics, radiology, forensics, dentistry, social work and police as well as talks from a youth worker, an advocate for asylum seekers and the Women’s Aid regional services manager. Each talk was followed by a quiz on its content. The online component was offered as a pilot to 15 trainees and written questionnaires were requested to obtain feedback. The in-person practical day consisted of lectures, role play, simulation and small group discussions. Feedback was gathered from the 15 trainees in attendance via anonymous sticky notes.ResultsFrom the pilot of the online learning materials a total of 7 questionnaires were completed and returned from the 15 candidates. 100% of trainees who completed the feedback ‘strongly agreed’ that the videos were relevant to safeguarding training in Northern Ireland and would recommend the course to a colleague. Themes within the feedback showed that trainees felt the course was ‘specific to Northern Ireland’ and ‘more helpful and useful’ than the previously available national safeguarding course. From the practical day, a total of 18 sticky notes from 15 candidates were collected. Themes identified from the qualitative feedback included how ‘practical’ (n=4) and ‘interactive’ (n=4) it was along with it being preferred to the current mandatory safeguarding course (n=3).ConclusionsPaediatric trainees involved in the pilot and practical day found the Safe NI course useful and this supports its introduction as the new mandatory level 3 safeguarding course for trainees in Northern Ireland. We plan to use the suggestions raised in feedback to improve the course and better meet the needs of l