Honorary Professor appointed as the next Officer for Child Protection at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Dr Andrew Rowland, Honorary Professor (Children’s Rights, Law, and Advocacy) at the University of Salford, has been appointed to the role of Officer for Child Protection at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) for an initial three-year term of office.
The RCPCH works to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people across the world, by supporting paediatricians, shaping policy, and improving practice. The Officer for Child Protection is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction in all aspects of child protection, safeguarding children, and Looked After Children (LAC) across all four nations of the UK.
Working with the Health Policy team at the RCPCH, the Officer for Child Protection will develop a robust annual work plan as well as communicating on behalf of the Royal College with a wide range of stakeholders including other healthcare professional organisations, interagency groups, and relevant UK government departments and statutory bodies, the media, and other groups.
Professor Rowland said: “I am so excited to be taking on this new role, which is a fantastic opportunity to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of infants, children, and young people in the UK and across the world; and to support my colleague paediatricians.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the outstanding Health Policy team at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and with key stakeholders including the RCPCH’s fabulous RCPCH &Us group, to do everything possible to support the development of child safe communities with happy, healthy, and safe children and young people at their hearts.
“I’d like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Dr Alison Steele, whose steadfast work as the outgoing Officer for Child Protection has formed solid foundations for me to take over the baton – thank you so much for your advocacy for children and young people, for your support for your colleagues, and for your unfaltering leadership over the last five years.”
RCPCH Registrar Professor Steve Turner said: It’s a pleasure to announce Dr Rowland as our new Officer for Child Protection. Dr Rowland has a breadth of experience in child protection, both nationally and internationally, after years of advocating for and with children and young people and safeguarding vulnerable groups.
“Child protection plays a role in everything we do as child health professionals, and I have no doubt that Dr Rowland will champion RCPCH’s safeguarding agenda for children and young people. Welcome Andrew, we’re so lucky to have you on board.”
Professor Margaret Rowe, Dean of the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford, said: “This appointment is fantastic news and very well deserved. Andrew’s new role provides a platform to make a real difference to children’s lives and to push this important agenda. His commitment and drive in protecting and promoting children’s rights and in children’s advocacy is inspiring and has quite rightly earned him a hugely positive regional, national, and global reputation. I am so pleased for Andrew, for the University, and, more importantly, for children and young people across the UK.”
Pictured: Professor Andrew Rowland
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