It is quite normal to have some anxiety about the consequences of making a child protection referral. These may include fears about potential adverse consequences for the child or family, or repercussions on your dental practice or yourself.5,29 Talking it through, or ‘debriefing’, with an experienced colleague may be helpful or you may wish to seek independent confidential counselling. This may be available through your local occupational health department or child protection named nurse (see Finding your local contacts).
| ‘I still think this is a really difficult thing for us, working in a small town where everyone knows everyone else’ |
A dental practice owner |
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| ‘I had some sleepless nights after I referred the little girl. I wondered whether I had done the right thing. It helped to talk to someone who had seen this kind of thing before’ |
A dental nurse |
Why not share your experiences and what you have learned with colleagues by submitting these records anonymously to the project team? A significant events library will be compiled with selected expert commentary on reported events, with a view to publication and circulation in due course. Download form |
