Children’s Data & Safeguarding Policy
Effective Date: 29 May 2025 Review Due: 29 November 2025 Jurisdiction: UK, EU, US, Australia, Canada, India, Singapore Policy Owner: Head of Governance, Trust & Ethics Approved by: Legal, Safeguarding & Risk Committee
CliniciansCheck is committed to protecting the privacy, rights, and welfare of children and young people who may indirectly or directly interact with the platform. While our services are not designed for direct use by children under the age of 16, we acknowledge that clinicians, parents, guardians, or educational professionals may refer to or input information about individuals under 18. This policy outlines how any child-related data is handled, secured, and protected in line with global legal standards including the UK Children’s Code, the EU GDPR Article 8, the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), Australia’s Online Safety Act, and equivalent child safeguarding provisions worldwide.
CliniciansCheck does not knowingly collect or process personal information from children. Our registration, communication, and participation processes are designed for adult professionals and verified users only. Any reference to a minor within submitted content (for example in free-text fields, complaint forms, or messages) is treated with heightened sensitivity and is never used for profiling, marketing, or behavioural targeting. If such content is discovered, we advise immediate deletion and encourage secure use of external systems better equipped to handle children’s clinical or educational data.
Where safeguarding concerns are raised—either by a registered user or as part of platform moderation—CliniciansCheck will act in accordance with mandatory reporting laws and best practice frameworks. Any allegations of abuse, exploitation, or welfare risk to a child will be escalated to appropriate statutory bodies, safeguarding partners, or law enforcement in the relevant jurisdiction. Platform moderators are trained to identify inappropriate references and imagery and to escalate concerns swiftly to our Safeguarding Officer and Data Protection Officer.
All safeguarding alerts and platform responses are logged securely and retained only as necessary for legal compliance and investigative support. Access to such records is strictly limited and audited. CliniciansCheck also maintains active liaison capability with NHS safeguarding leads, Ofsted contacts, and designated child protection officers in key jurisdictions to support coordinated responses when appropriate.
This policy is reviewed every six months or upon significant changes in the legal or operational environment. Parents, guardians, and professionals with questions or concerns about any aspect of this policy should contact operationsteam@clinicianscheck.com.