What role for the general practitioner in child protection?
BACKGROUND
New government guidance on cooperation in child protection confirms the importance of the general practitioner (GP) contribution. While research highlights the concerns of others about their role in the multi-agency process, relatively little is known about the views and experiences of GPs themselves.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the understanding that each of the key professional groups had of its own and each other's roles in child protection to identify those factors seen to enhance or inhibit the effective performance of these roles.


METHODS
The research formed part of a larger investigation of the role of health professionals in child protection, which combined case study investigations of child protection networks in three health authority sites with a regional survey of Area Child Protection Committee members.


RESULTS
A lack of correspondence was identified between GPs' perception and performance of their role in child protection and the expectations placed upon them by other child protection professionals and government guidance.


CONCLUSIONS
The study identifies the need for more explicit discussion of the nature and extent of the GP role in local interagency child protection networks.
Social Services Research and Information Unit, School of Social and Historical Studies, University of Portsmouth. ssriu@port.ac.uk
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Lupton
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North
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Khan
D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002669:Child Welfare; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D010819:Physician's Role; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000458:organization & administration