Care Quality Commission (CQC) announces launch of targeted child protection inspections.

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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is to launch a dedicated child protection inspection regime of health services.

The two-year regime will target health services in 100 council areas where CQC research has found children to be at the greatest risk. It will take into account child protection concerns highlighted in recent inspection reports, serious case review findings and the length of time since services were last inspected.

The CQC have claimed that "the focus is on the child's journey through the maze" of GP surgeries, health visitors, school nurseries, dental practices, hospital emergency departments, mental health services and more. The inspections will also focus on how well local health services are working together to safeguard children.

Inspectors will also focus on the quality of child protection training and the timeliness of referrals to child protection services, including those for mental health and substance abuse. This latest regime comes ahead of plans in 2015 for a multi-agency inspection of child protection across health, social care, education and the justice system that will involve Ofsted, CQC, HMI Probation, HMI Prisons and HMI Constabulary.

Ahead of the new regime, the CQC's Sue McMillan said "we are continuing to follow up our responsibilities in making sure children using health services are safeguarded from abuse and that children in the care of local authorities have their health needs met".

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