Dentists and their support staff are to be targeted as part of the NSPCC's biggest ever child protection training exercise. From 3 October 2005, dental surgeries across the country will receive complementary copies of EduCare, a child protection awareness distance learning programme.

The mailing is part of the NSPCC's latest initiative, 'Talk 'til it stops', a campaign designed to mobilise people to take action to end child abuse. The campaign will encourage people to talk to each other if they are worried about a child. The organisation claims that dentists can be a vital link in the child protection chain as they have frequent contact with children and families. EduCare will help dental staff recognise the possible signs of abuse and ensure they know how to act if they have concerns about a child. The programme will also help staff act appropriately if a patient approaches them with child protection concerns.

NSPCC director and chief executive Mary Marsh said, “Everyone who works for or alongside children and young people must be able to recognise, respond and report any concerns they have about a child. Even professionals who have had child protection training should take this opportunity to remind themselves who the child protection leads are in their organisation and what they should do if they are worried about a child being abused.”

EduCare consists of four short learning modules and is tailored for specific sectors. Recipients will receive module one which includes the learning materials and a short multiple-choice questionnaire. Participants simply read through the module, complete the questionnaire and send it off to be marked in a reply-paid envelope. As well as dentists, over 220,000 copies of the EduCare learning programme will be mailed to key groups including school and practice nurses and GPs and the police and the fire service.

During October, there are limited complimentary copies of EduCare available for anyone working with children and young people, but who have not been included in the mailing. If you would like to be part of this programme, simply register online at www.debrus-educare.co.uk/talktilitstops or e-mail your name, address and job title to talktilitstops@debrus.co.uk or telephone 01926 436202. Applicants will be processed on a first come, first served basis.