Chaperoning In Primary Care

Chaperoning in Primary Care | E-Learning

Acting as a chaperone is a formal clinical support role. It requires training that reflects that.

All medical consultations and examinations carry some potential for distress. Examinations involving the breasts, genitalia or rectum are particularly sensitive, and are defined as intimate examinations. Cultural factors, gender dynamics, and the vulnerability of certain patient groups, including children and young people, make the presence of a trained chaperone both a patient safeguard and a protection for the clinician conducting the examination.

However, a chaperone is not simply a witness. Their role is defined, their conduct matters, and their presence is only meaningful if they understand what they are there to do and how to do it properly. A relative or friend of the patient, as GMC guidance makes clear, is not an impartial observer and would not normally be a suitable chaperone. Non-clinical staff, such as GP receptionists and healthcare assistants, who are asked to act as chaperones, need formal training.

This online course was written in line with guidance from the General Medical Council (GMC), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the Medical Defence Union (MDU), the Medical Protection Society (MPS), the NHS and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

What You Will Learn

• What a chaperone is, and why the role exists in primary care settings
• The types of consultation and examination for which a chaperone may be required, including intimate examinations and any consultation where a patient may feel vulnerable
• GMC and RCN guidance on the chaperone role: what it requires and what it does not require
• Patient consent: how to discuss and document consent for both the examination and the presence of a chaperone
• The specific considerations that apply when the patient is a child or young person
• Cultural considerations: how cultural background and gender can affect patient comfort, and how to respond appropriately
• Your responsibilities during the examination: maintaining the patient’s dignity, what to observe and how to document it
• What to do if you witness something that concerns you during an examination
• CQC inspection expectations around chaperone policy and training

Course Details

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for non-clinical staff in GP surgeries, dental practices and other primary care settings who may be asked to act as a chaperone. This includes receptionists, healthcare assistants, practice administrators and other support staff. It is also suitable for practices reviewing their chaperone policy and training arrangements as part of CQC preparation.

Certificate:

• On successful completion of the course, you will be able to download your certificate.
• Valid for 1 year.
• A4 sized pdf certificates are issued shortly after you complete the course.
• The course has been approved by the CPD Accreditation Group and qualifies for 1 CPD point.

Course duration:

• Learn at your own pace, typically 1 hour.

Test:

• Knowledge checks after each section of the course and an end of course multiple choice assessment

Pre-requisites:

• None

Geographical coverage:

• The Chaperoning In Primary Care course is available to candidates throughout the UK.

Venue:

• This online Chaperoning In Primary Care course can be completed on any PC or mobile device.
• You can study at your own pace, and log in and out as often as you wish.

Joining instructions:

• Shortly after you purchase your place on the Chaperoning In Primary Care course, we will email you your login details for the course.
• Visit this page to read the course joining instructions including everything you need to know about our e-learning courses.

Useful Links:

• CQC: GP Mythbuster: Chaperones