Paediatric Imaging - Suspected Physical Abuse - Professional/Short course

Program Overview

This Master's-level module in Paediatric Imaging - Suspected Physical Abuse equips imaging practitioners with knowledge and skills to handle cases of suspected child abuse. It covers clinical protocols, anatomy, legal and ethical issues, and patient care. Graduates can pursue careers as paediatric radiographers, advanced practitioners, or researchers in childhood injury and abuse.

Program Outline

Paediatric Imaging - Suspected Physical Abuse - Professional/Short Course

Degree Overview

This 30-credit level 7 (Master's level) module aims to equip paediatric imaging practitioners with the knowledge and skills to understand the legal complexities and best practices involved in imaging children with suspected physical abuse (SPA). Delivered by experienced lecturers with extensive SPA knowledge and clinical expertise, the module will enable you to develop professional skills and techniques in this sensitive area.

Outline

Content:

• Clinical protocols for SPA imaging
• Rationale for imaging and technique adaptation
• Paediatric anatomy and physiology
• Fundamentals of paediatric skeletal abnormality, including normal and abnormal variants
• Management and organization of SPA skeletal survey service provision
• Evaluation of modern technology's impact on working practices
• Ethical and legal issues relating to SPA imaging practice, including:
• Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations (2018) IR(ME)R
• Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR) (1999)
• Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNICEF)
• Children Act (2004)
• Professional body regulations, particularly the joint Royal College of Radiographers (RCR) and Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) 2017 guidance document
• Patient care, including:
• Preparation and quality enhancement
• Employment of restraints, immobilization, and sedation
• Patient groups, including anaesthetized and sedated patients
• Appraising the use of patient immobilization
• Completion of a clinical portfolio of evidence containing:
• Record of clinical experience (minimum of five cases) with anonymized reports and images
• Three 1000-word case studies of Suspected Physical Abuse surveys, including:
• Differential diagnosis
• Legal, ethical, and organizational aspects

Assessment

• Structured Oral and Practical Examination (SOPE) - up to one hour in duration
• Clinical Portfolio of Evidence

Teaching

• Blended learning approach, including:
• Online delivery of lecture material through narrated presentations, notes, and directed reading
• Scheduled learning activities, including lectures, seminars, group work, and tutorial support
• Independent learning, including:
• Essential and guided reading
• VLE discussion board participation
• Workplace tasks
• Case study and assignment preparation
• Clinical portfolio completion

Careers

Graduates of this program can pursue careers as:

• Paediatric radiographers
• Advanced practitioners in paediatric imaging
• Researchers in childhood injury and abuse

Other

• This module has been approved and accredited by the College of Radiographers for professional practice.