When I look through the range of scenarios discussed within this mini-series,1 ,2 it reminds me of the reason I was drawn into the safeguarding field. These are all difficult areas where highly vulnerable children require our expertise to keep them safe but also areas where the answers are not necessarily that straightforward or intuitive. Equally, they are not scenarios you are likely to come across on a daily basis, so signposting to where the best support is available is critical.

‘Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility’, a much-quoted statement to which all of us who work within paediatrics would recognise as being accurate and critically important. We all get drawn into the field of paediatrics due to a real love of working with children and young people and their families. Many though struggle with the need to challenge families when the reality strikes that direct harm to the children within their care is happening or families are failing to protect them from harm inflicted by others. Going further and taking the next step of using your considerable expertise in paediatrics to take on a lead role within safeguarding is not surprisingly a step many do not instinctively jump for. This then leads to a significant difficulty in the ability to fill specific roles in safeguarding. This includes named and designated roles in general safeguarding, supporting those in the care system and providing the level of …