Exam Pass Notes

Use these notes as a brief refresher before the assessment. They summarise the practical points from the course but do not replace local policy, legal advice, healthcare guidance or safeguarding procedures.

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• Consent and decision-making apply across everyday care as well as formal treatment decisions.
• Do not interpret silence, fear or pressure as agreement.
• Gillick competence assesses whether a child under 16 understands a specific decision and its consequences.
• Many 16 and 17 year olds are legally able to consent to their own treatment.
• Serious treatment refusal or persistent disagreement should be escalated via clinical, social work or legal channels.
• Staff on shift do not automatically acquire parental responsibility.
• Delegated authority and the child's plan clarify routine decision-making responsibilities.
• Confidentiality builds trust, but it does not override safeguarding obligations.
• Advocacy helps children understand choices and raise concerns safely.
• Consent is normally not the lawful basis for sharing information when safeguarding a child at possible risk of harm.
• Share only the information that is necessary and relevant, and follow the correct route for disclosure.
• Record contested decisions, the child's expressed views and the reasons for sharing or escalating information.