Since October 2024, safeguarding for GPs has undergone a fundamental shift. The RCGP published a single, unified set of Safeguarding Standards that now cover the entire ‘Life Course’ – from infancy through to old age.
What is the ‘life course’ safeguarding approach?
In the real world, safeguarding issues don’t stop when a child turns 18.
This approach recognises that the risks in a household – like domestic abuse, substance misuse, or mental health crises – affect everyone from infants to the elderly. As a GP, you are expected to look at the “whole family” context in every consultation.