Exam Pass Notes

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Core Points

• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility in dental practice.
• Level 2 safeguarding focuses on recognising concerns, responding appropriately, escalating when needed, and recording the incident.
• Dental nurses are not expected to prove abuse before raising a concern.
• Children may be harmed by physical injury, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation, online risks, domestic abuse, FGM, or other forms of harm.
• Adults at risk can experience physical, psychological, sexual, financial, discriminatory, organisational, domestic abuse, or neglect.
• Repeated missed appointments, untreated dental pain, poor oral health, unexplained injury, marked fearfulness, controlling companions, or sudden changes in behaviour may indicate concern.
• When someone discloses abuse, listen calmly. Do not promise confidentiality or conduct an investigation yourself.
• If someone is in immediate danger take urgent action, including calling 999 when appropriate.
• Safeguarding leads provide support and advice but individual professionals retain responsibility to act on concerns.
• Adult safeguarding decisions should consider: empowerment, proportionality, protection, partnership, prevention and accountability.
• Adults with capacity should usually be involved in decisions. Where there is serious risk, coercion, lack of capacity, or risk to others, information may need to be shared without consent.
• Records should be factual, timely, clear and respectful.
• Data protection law permits proportionate information sharing for safeguarding purposes.
• Speak up if a concern is minimised, delayed, or recorded inadequately.

Useful Phrases

• "I am worried this may be a safeguarding concern. Can we check the policy?"
• "I cannot promise secrecy, but I will only share this with people who need to help keep you safe."
• "Can we record the exact words before we forget them?"
• "I think we need advice before the patient leaves."
• "I understand we do not have proof, but we do have a concern."