Child Protection Information System audit

Child Protection Information System checks (CP-IS) have now been in place for a number of months and in response to early feedback, additional guidance has been developed that will help to answer some of the questions that have surfaced following its introduction.

A recent audit has highlighted very few ePCRs documented that CP-IS had been checked.

It is likely, in part, that this is because currently there is no specific place to document the check on ePCR. Work is underway to develop a solution but in the interim it is recommended that this is recorded on scene in the Care Summary > Concerns for Vulnerable Patient.

As a quick reminder, since the 29^th March there is a requirement to check the CPIS (Child Protection Information Sharing) record prior to discharging on scene for any Male 18 years or younger and any Female 60 years or younger (child bearing age)

You can do this in one of three ways:

Option 1 – If you work in an area that Summary Care Record Access (SCRa) has been rolled out to and you have registered for Biometric Access then you can perform this check yourself.

To do this, search the patient using their NHS number as normal. If there is a CPIS warning it will display as an amber banner at the top of the patients landing page.  You can open this to see more details, your name will be logged as accessing this and an encounter will be recorded.

This search can be carried out without the patients or parents’ consent. However if you wish to view the patients clinical data in SCRa you must gain consent as you normally would to view any SCRa record.

Option 2 – The check may have been carried out at the time of call by the call handler and recorded on the CAD, you can check with your Dispatcher to see if an entry exists. If a record exists contact ECAT to get further information.

Option 3 – If a check was not completed during the initial 999 call you should call 01234 779203, a member of the ECAT team will then be able to check the CPIS for you. To do this you will need to provide the patients NHS number. They will then tell you if there is a safeguarding marker present and if there are any specific actions listed.

However you check CPIS the result of the check should be documented in your ePCR. 

If a CPIS record is found you should:

• Follow any specific actions detailed on the CPIS record

• Have a low threshold for conveyance – especially in the case of injury or where you have safeguarding concerns.

• Discharge on scene must be a shared decision with a senior clinician (for children this should also be in line with the current Paediatric Discharge Policy).

• All patients identified with a CPIS record must have a children’s social care referral made via SPOC even where there are no new concerns.

Published 31st July 2023