Responding to Disclosures and Immediate Risk

A patient may speak to a dental nurse because they find you approachable, the dentist has left the room, or they want to check whether it is safe to talk.

Your first responses should be calm, honest and supportive. Listen carefully and thank the person for telling you. Avoid showing shock, disbelief or blame, and do not press for unnecessary detail. Do not ask leading questions such as "Did your dad hit you?" or "Was it your carer who stole the money?" Use open prompts like "Tell me what happened" or "What are you worried about?" only when you need clarification.

You must not promise to keep a safeguarding concern secret. A suitable response is: "I may need to share this with people who can help keep you or someone else safe, but I will not tell people who do not need to know." If there is immediate danger, call 999. If the risk is urgent but not immediate, follow the local safeguarding route without delay.

• Listen and reassure the person they did the right thing by telling you.
• Clarify only what is needed for safety and referral.
• Preserve the person’s privacy and dignity.
• Escalate to the safeguarding lead or use the emergency route.
• Record details as soon as possible using the person’s own words.

The dental nurse's role is not to investigate the allegation; it is to hear it safely and ensure the correct action is taken.

If The Patient Asks You Not To Tell