Chaperoning training
This training ensures all practice staff understand when and how to offer a chaperone during intimate examinations, how to act as a trained chaperone, and why this protects both patients and clinicians. It covers our practice chaperone policy, consent, documentation, and what to do when concerns arise.
What This Training Covers
A clear, practical grounding in chaperoning.
This training ensures all practice staff understand when and how to offer a chaperone during intimate examinations, how to act as a trained chaperone, and why this protects both patients and clinicians. It covers our practice chaperone policy, consent, documentation, and what to do when concerns arise.
Learning Outcomes
By the end, your staff will be able to:
What Your Team Will Learn
A closer look at the chaperoning module.
The module is built in short, practical sections. Each one teaches a part of the topic, then applies it to a real care scenario and checks understanding before moving on.
What is a Chaperone and When is One Needed
A chaperone is a trained member of staff who stays in the room during an intimate examination to protect the patient and the clinician. Intimate examinations include cervical screening, breast checks, abdominal examinations, testicular or rectal checks, contraceptive implants, catheterisation, and skin checks in private areas. Our practice policy requires that a chaperone is offered for every intimate examination, regardless of the gender of the patient or the clinician. A trained chaperone is different from a friend or relative who may accompany the patient.
Offering a Chaperone and Obtaining Consent
The clinician must offer a chaperone as a routine part of preparing for an intimate examination, explaining clearly what the examination involves. The patient has the right to accept or decline the chaperone. The clinician also has the right to decline to proceed without a chaperone and can offer to rebook or refer instead. Whatever the patient decides, the offer and the response must be recorded in the clinical notes using our practice templates and codes. Valid consent means the patient understands what will happen, why it is needed, and freely agrees.
The Role of the Chaperone During the Examination
A trained chaperone must remain present throughout the entire examination, positioned where they can see what is happening. The chaperone should be attentive and ready to reassure the patient or speak up if something concerns them, not a passive presence. The chaperone helps preserve the patient's dignity by assisting with curtains, drapes, and positioning, and ensures the patient stays warm and covered as much as possible. The chaperone should not leave the room during the examination or be distracted by other tasks.
Sensitivity to Individual Patient Needs
Some patients need extra care and sensitivity during intimate examinations. This includes children and young people, adults who may lack capacity to consent, patients with a history of trauma or abuse, and those with cultural or religious needs such as preferring a chaperone of a particular gender. Our practice must make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. If a patient needs an interpreter, the interpreter should not also act as the chaperone. Always consider what will help the patient feel safe and maintain their dignity.
When a Trained Chaperone is Not Available
In small branch surgeries, single handed sessions, out of hours, or during home visits, a trained chaperone may not be available. In these situations, the clinician should still offer a chaperone and explain the situation honestly to the patient. The patient may choose to bring a friend or relative, but this is an informal chaperone and does not provide the same protection. The clinician may decide to postpone the examination and rebook, or to proceed only if it is urgent and the patient consents. All decisions and the reasons must be clearly documented.
Speaking Up and Raising Concerns
If a chaperone ever witnesses something during an examination that worries them or does not seem right, they have a duty to speak up. This might include the clinician not explaining what they are doing, the patient appearing distressed or not consenting, or any behaviour that seems inappropriate. The chaperone should raise the concern immediately if the patient is at risk, or report it afterwards to the practice safeguarding lead or practice manager. Our practice has clear routes for raising concerns and will support staff who speak up. This is part of our duty to protect patients and maintain safe care.
Key Points Covered
The things your team must remember.
- A chaperone must be offered for every intimate examination regardless of patient or clinician gender, and the offer and response must be documented
- A trained chaperone stays present throughout the examination, positioned to see what is happening, and helps preserve patient dignity
- Patients have the right to decline a chaperone, and clinicians have the right to decline to proceed without one
- Extra sensitivity is needed for children, vulnerable adults, patients with trauma history, and those with cultural or religious needs
- When a trained chaperone is unavailable, explain the situation honestly, document it clearly, and consider rebooking
- Chaperones have a duty to speak up and report any concerns about patient safety or inappropriate practice
Who and how often
Chaperoning is refreshed every year, for the staff in your care setting whose roles require it.
CQC and standards
Supports the training evidence CQC expects to see for a well-run, safe care setting.
How CareStream Delivers It
Not a slideshow once a year. Training that sticks.
CareStream delivers chaperoning training in the hub your team already uses, grounded in best practice and your own policies, so it fits your care setting and not a generic template.
Teach, then assess
Short teaching sections and a real care scenario, then an assessment that checks understanding.
In any language
Staff complete it in over 60 languages, while your records stay in English.
Learn and retry
A wrong answer triggers a short follow-up lesson and a fresh question, so the gap is closed.
Renewals handled
Automatic reminders at 90, 30 and 7 days, with a live compliance dashboard.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions.
Give your team chaperoning training that actually sticks.
See how CareStream delivers your mandatory training in the hub, in any language.