Safeguarding Leads, Risk Assessment, and Multi-Agency Work

Every dental practice must have a named safeguarding lead; this does not remove individual professional responsibilities of dental nurses.

In many practices a senior dental nurse, lead dental nurse, or practice manager will act as safeguarding lead or deputy. In other practices the lead may be a dentist or manager. Dental nurses should know how to obtain advice quickly and what to do if the usual lead is absent, conflicted, or dismissive.

Risk assessment must consider the full context: the child's exact words, family background, planned travel, previous safeguarding concerns or adult survivor disclosures, missed appointments, who attends with the child, and whether the child has been seen alone where appropriate. Dental teams must avoid intrusive questioning or examinations. Their role is to record relevant observations and follow referral pathways.

• Bring together facts from reception, chairside, records, and previous contacts.
• Separate what was seen or heard from what is suspected.
• Seek safeguarding supervision or advice when unsure.
• Escalate if the risk may be immediate or the response is inadequate.

A dental nurse's observation can provide information that helps social care, police, health visitors, school nurses, or specialist services assess risk.

What A Safeguarding Lead Should Support