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For professionals - Child protection medical assessment
A child protection medical assessment is a medical assessment completed when safeguarding concerns have been raised and the assessment has been requested as part of a strategy meeting.
This service is for:
- children and young people (from 1 years old to 19 years old) with injuries that do not need immediate medical attention
- children and young people with signs of neglect
Topics covered in this page
Who to contact
Requesting a safeguarding medical assessment
To request a child protection medical assessment for a child or young person, call the safeguarding number 01223 218097
Concerns about urgent medical care
If there are concerns that the:
- child or young person's injuries need urgent medical care
- child is under 1 years old
Refer to your local acute paediatric hospital immediately. Contact the switchboard and ask to speak to the Paediatric Consultant on call.
In a medical emergency
Call 999 if it's a medical emergency.
If you have concerns about sexual abuse, contact the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) on 0800 1935 434
Consent
The assessment cannot take place without consent.
If an interpreter is required, it is essential that you inform us before the assessment.
A social worker will be expected to accompany the child or young person to the medical assessment. The social worker may be asked for information about the case.
Before the examination takes place, we will ask for consent from the person with legal responsibility of the child or young person.
Please ensure that the child or young person is accompanied by someone who can give consent. If you feel it is appropriate, this can be the parent or carer. It can also be their designated social worker.
If the child or young person is old enough, they may also be asked to consent alongside the person with legal responsibility.
We may also ask for consent to take photographs of any relevant findings for medical records and peer review.
Photography
The doctor may feel that it is important to photograph and document any of the marks or injuries seen during the examination. This will be fully explained at the assessment. The photographs will be taken by the examining doctor. These may be used to peer review and teaching/training purposes only.
The photographs will not be sent as part of the report. The photographs will be stored securely with the child's medical records. They are not suitable for evidence in court.
What will happen at the assessment
The following steps will be taken at the assessment:
- You will arrive at either The Peacock Centre, Cambridge OR The Oak Tree Centre, Huntingdon (level 1) waiting area.
- The child or young person will have their height and weight checked.
- The doctor will take a history from the person accompanying the child or young person (parent, carer or designated social worker). They will access the child or young person's electronic record for past medical information.
- The doctor will then examine the child or young person. We will endeavour to have a chaperone present for the medical assessment.
- If there are any marks or bruises, these will be photographed and carefully documented.
The doctor will discuss any concerns from the examination with the parent, carer or designated social worker. If appropriate, the doctor may also discuss it with you.
The doctor will discuss whether the child or young person requires any further investigations or referral to other services.
A report will be written by the doctor. This report will be sent to you, the GP, health visitor or school nurse and local acute hospital.
How to get to the assessment centre
The Peacock Centre, Cambridge
The Peacock Centre, Brookfields Hospital, 351 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 3UG
Limited parking is available for patients directly outside the building.
Oak Tree Centre, Huntingdon
1 Oak Dr, Huntingdon PE29 7HN
A free car park is located next to the Oak Tree Centre and some parking is available outside the front of the centre.
Directions to the Peacock Centre
From the M11, exit at Junction 12 towards Cambridge/Sandy/A603. Take the 1st exit at the roundabout onto Barton Road/ A603. At the second roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Fen Causeway/ A1134, until you get to the next roundabout where you should take the 1st exit onto Trumpington Road. Then use the second exit on the roundabout to get onto Lenfield Road/A603. At the traffic lights, turn right onto Mill Road. Turn off left after approximately 1 mile to reach Brookfield's Hospital.
From the A14, exit at junction 34 to join the B1047 exit to Horningsea/Fen Ditton.Turn right onto Horningsea Road/B1047. Use any lane to turn right onto Newmarket Road/A1303. At the roundabout take 1st exit onto Barnwell Road/ A1134. At the 2nd roundabout, leave at the second exit onto Brooks Road/ A1134. Then turn right onto Brookfield's/Mill Road. Turn right into Brookfield's Hospital.
Directions to the Oak Tree Centre
From the A1, use the left 2 lanes to take the A1307 exit towards Huntingdon/St Ives. Continue onto A1307. Use the left lane to take the A141 slip road to Huntingdon/March. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A141. At the next roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Stukeley Rd/B1044. Turn left onto St Peters Road. Turn right onto Redwongs Way. Turn left onto Sallowbush Rd. Turn left onto Maple Drive, then turn right onto Oak Drive, the Oak Tree Centre will be on your right.
From the A14, at the Swavesey Northern Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Huntingdon Road/A1307. Turn right onto Pathfinder Link Road. Merge onto Walden Road, then turn left onto Ambury Road. Turn left onto Swallowbush Road. Turn left onto Maple Drive, then turn right onto Oak Drive, the Oak Tree Centre will be on your right.
Last reviewed: 1 November, 2023
