Glossary: Named Professional

All NHS Trusts, NHS Foundation Trusts and Primary Care Trusts providing services for children should identify a Named Doctor and a Named Nurse/Midwife for safeguarding children. In the case of NHS Direct, and ambulance trusts, and independent providers this should be a named professional.

Named professionals have a key role in promoting good professional practice within the trust, ensuring a safeguarding children training strategy is in place and delivered within their organisation and providing advice and expertise for fellow professionals. They should have specific expertise in child health and development, child maltreatment and local arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

The named professional will usually be responsible for conducting the Trusts internal case reviews, except when they have had personal involvement in the case when it will be more appropriate for the Designated Health Professional to conduct the review. The named professional will also ensure that any resulting required action is followed up.

(Definition provided by tri.x)