The CHILD safeguarding simulation study: Co-designed cHild-centred Interprofessional Learning through Dialogue for healthcare professionals

Abstract Background Globally, in excess of one billion children experience violence and abuse every year, leading to upwards of 40,000 deaths. Child safeguarding education typically occurs in professional silos across healthcare, often focusing on specific undergraduate competencies. In practice, however, child safeguarding requires a multi-professional approach, necessitating effective communication in emotionally charged contexts. To address these needs, we designed an interprofessional course using simulation-based education for experienced healthcare professionals working in the emergency department. Methods On three occasions, we delivered an in-person, two-day course with 32 healthcare professionals from medicine, nursing, and social work. We collected data using multiple methods including participant demographics and child safeguarding experience (n = 32), observational field notes, individual semi-structured interviews (n = 14) and focus groups (n = 4). We analyzed the data using landscapes of practice theory as a sensitizing concept. Results Using landscapes of practice theory, we deductively generated three key themes from our data: (1) collaborative learning, (2) the medium of language, and (3) creating a safe space. These themes encapsulate our participants’ experiences in navigating interprofessional learning within newly established teams, during simulated child safety scenarios in the emergency department. Findings also detail participants’ knowledge gains and confidence in reporting child safeguarding concerns. Conclusions This co-designed interprofessional simulation-based child safeguarding course created space for learners to renegotiate safeguarding as a shared, interdependent responsibility. Authentic, emotionally charged scenarios in a psychologically safe environment helped participants tolerate uncertainty, rehearse reporting decisions, and develop a shared safeguarding lexicon. The resulting design principles may assist educators seeking to foreground psychological safety, authentic collaboration and the child’s voice in interprofessional safeguarding education.