Introduction

This policy outlines how our practice uses chaperones to protect patients and the dental team. It applies to all clinicians, staff members, visiting practitioners, and patients across face‑to‑face, telephone, and video consultations. This policy is publicly available in the reception room.

Definition of a chaperone

A chaperone is a person who accompanies and looks after another individual or group by providing support or acting as a witness. The GDC standards state that you should work with another appropriately trained member of the dental team at all times when treating patients in a dental setting. The only circumstances in which this does not apply are when:

• Treating patients in an out of hours emergency,
• Providing treatment as part of a public health programme, or
• There are exceptional circumstances.

‘Exceptional circumstances’ are unavoidable circumstances which are not routine and could not have been foreseen. Absences due to leave or training are not exceptional circumstances.

Clinical chaperones

A chaperone should be present whenever a clinician provides care to patients during advertised practice working hours. If, during practice working hours, a clinician is required to provide care without the support of a chaperone, our practice systems allow for help and support to be summoned immediately. Clinical chaperones support the clinician during care and treatment. Their duties include:

• Accompanying and assisting during treatment
• Acting as an impartial witness
• Providing reassurance to patients
• Enhancing safety
• Summoning immediate assistance in an emergency if required.

At our practice, dental nurses are clinical chaperones. They are trained to understand:

• Professional boundaries
• Their responsibilities when witnessing care
• How to raise concerns.

Outside of normal practice hours, it is unlikely that a chaperone will be present to provide support routinely – for example, providing out-of-hours urgent care to patients. Participation in local public health programmes may also necessitate working without a chaperone. In these circumstances, the clinician should assess the risks involved and their options for providing patient care:

• Postponing the patient’s care until normal practice working hours
• Being accompanied by a friend or relative to ensure that someone other than the patient is present at the practice
• Explaining the limitations of working without a chaperone and obtaining the patient’s consent before treatment is provided
• Practice systems allow for patients attended outside of normal working hours to be screened and recorded and for their clinical records to be accessed.

A patient’s request to be accompanied in the surgery by a relative or friend should be considered and only refused if the presence of the relative or friend would adversely affect the care provided.

Chaperones for children and vulnerable adults

If a child or vulnerable adult is being treated, and the clinician or dental nurse must temporarily leave the surgery, arrangements should be made for an appropriate second chaperone to remain present. This may include:

• Another GDC‑registered team member
• A suitably trained staff member
• The parent, guardian, or carer (in appropriate circumstances).

Non-clinical chaperones

In addition to the need for a chaperone when providing care to patients, a chaperone may also be required in the following situations:

• Interviewing a complaining patient
• Formal meetings with a member of the team – as part of a practice disciplinary procedure or grievance procedure, for example
• Any other situation where a witness is needed.

In these circumstances, the chaperone should be aware that, as a witness, they can be required to provide a witness statement of the event.

Remote consultations

Remote dental consultations such as telephone triage and video calls, may occasionally require a chaperone. A chaperone should be offered if the patient requests one or if the clinician feels the discussion may be sensitive. When a chaperone is present, they should be introduced at the start of the call, and their name, role, and involvement must be recorded. If a chaperone is needed but not immediately available, we may rearrange the call, advise the presence of a relative or carer, or arrange an in-person appointment.

Working without a chaperone

There may be occasions when dental care is provided without a chaperone. In these situations, the clinician should assess the risks and consider whether treatment can be safely postponed until a chaperone is available, whether the patient may be accompanied by a suitable relative or carer, or whether it is appropriate to proceed after explaining the limitations and obtaining the patient’s clear consent.

Patients should not ordinarily ask a dental nurse or clinical chaperone to leave during treatment, as their presence is essential. If a patient does request that the chaperone leaves, the clinician should pause or complete only the minimum necessary treatment, record the patient’s reason for not wanting the chaperone present, and explain why the dental nurse cannot be excluded for the remainder of the appointment. The clinician should then rebook the patient for a time when appropriate arrangements can be made or seek advice from their indemnity provider if unsure how to proceed.

Where care is provided without a chaperone, additional practical safeguards should be considered to reduce risk. This may include ensuring another member of staff is aware that treatment is taking place and keeping the surgery door open.

Date: 01:01:2026

Review date: 01:01: 2027