This educational handbook has been commissioned and funded by the UK Department of Health. Together with an accompanying website (<www.cpdt.org.uk>), it provides a comprehensive educational resource for dental teams working in primary care throughout the UK. The policy and procedures, however, are stated as for England and the authors draw attention to the fact that individuals working in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland should be aware of the existing differences and advise that the resource be used in conjunction with locally available guidance.
The style of the handbook and the website targets the busy general dental practitioner by providing relevant information in a succinct manner. The handbook consists of five sections, with the first section highlighting that child protection is a shared responsibility, with a brief explanation of recent changes in current practice in this field.
The second section provides vital information on categories of child abuse and draws attention to the difference between abuse and neglect. The data on children and young people on child protection registers (Fig. 2.2, p.2.2) drive home the general dental practitioner's share in the responsibility for protecting children from neglect. The reader is guided in greater detail to recognise abuse and neglect by using outline diagrams (Figs 2.4 and 2.5) along with the clinical images in this section.
The response expected from a dentist on recognition of neglect and/or abuse features in section three, with a flow chart for referral (Fig. 3.2) and a suggested action plan as guidance (Fig. 3.3). Information sharing and issues of confidentiality along with the forensic aspects of child protection practice are also highlighted in this section. Administrators and clinicians of any dental team will find section four useful as it explains the need for mandatory training in child protection for all staff during induction into any dental team.
Section five includes the glossary, references, information about the relevant local contacts and providers of training for child protection. Sample documents with approval for photocopying are provided in section five. These encourage recording of general continuing professional development after reading the handbook and also reflective practice on significant events with respect to child protection.
A PDF version of the handbook can be downloaded from the accompanying website, although the hard copy does more justice to the authors' endeavours. The website, however, provides the authors with the opportunity to provide timely updates with respect to child protection. The sample documents in section five can also be downloaded from the website and the section links to other websites of interest. It also facilitates navigation to help one to respond when there are concerns about a child. The authors should be commended for their work as their endeavour highlights the widely acknowledged contribution the dental profession as a whole can make towards the process of ensuring children's safety.