In December 2025, NHS England published "Improving chaperoning practice in the NHS: key principles and guidance". While chaperoning has long been part of primary care, this updated guidance represents a step change in expectations around competence, governance and staff support.

For Practice Managers, the impact is practical and immediate. The guidance does not simply ask practices to review policies - it raises important questions about whether current staff training is sufficient to meet national standards.

For many practices, this is where gaps start to emerge.

Chaperoning Is Now a Governance Issue

Historically, chaperone arrangements in general practice have often evolved informally. Training may have focused on intimate examinations, clinicians only, or basic awareness rather than demonstrable competence.

The new NHS England guidance is clear: Only staff who are appropriately trained and supported should act as chaperones, and practices should be able to evidence this. This places chaperoning firmly within:

•    safeguarding and patient safety
•    record keeping and audit
•    raising concerns and whistleblowing
•    lone working risk management
•    CQC Safe and Well Led domains

Simply having a policy is no longer enough if staff cannot confidently and consistently apply it.

The Hidden Risk: Non-Clinical Chaperones

One of the most significant practical implications for practices is the explicit inclusion of non-clinical staff as chaperones - but only where they are trained and competent.
In reality, many practices rely on reception and administrative staff, healthcare assistants, or support staff stepping in at short notice.

The guidance now expects those staff to understand:

•    consent and ongoing consent
•    patient dignity and privacy
•    recognising inappropriate or sexualised behaviour
•    how and when to raise concerns
•    their safeguarding responsibilities

Without structured training, practices may be exposing staff - and themselves - to avoidable risk.

Policy Updates Alone Don’t Close the Gap

Many practices will understandably respond to the guidance by revising their chaperone policy. That is necessary, but it does not resolve the core issue. Policies alone do not:

•    build staff confidence in real situations
•    prepare chaperones to challenge unsafe behaviour
•    ensure consistency across clinical and non-clinical roles
•    demonstrate competence to inspectors

Chaperoning, Speaking Up and Psychological Safety

The guidance also strengthens expectations around raising concerns. Chaperones are expected to act as patient advocates and to feel safe escalating issues through Freedom to Speak Up routes.

For many staff - particularly non-clinical staff - this requires:

•    clarity about when to speak up
•    confidence in how to raise concerns
•    reassurance that they will be supported

Training plays a critical role in creating that psychological safety. Without it, staff may stay silent when they should not.

Why Practices Are Now Buying Specialist Training

Increasingly, Practice Managers are recognising that legacy or informal training no longer stands up to scrutiny. They are looking for training that:

•    aligns fully with the 2025 NHS England guidance
•    is suitable for both clinical and non-clinical staff
•    supports safeguarding and escalation responsibilities
•    reflects the realities of primary care and lone working
•    provides evidence of completion and competence
•    supports CQC readiness

This is not about box ticking. It is about reducing organisational risk while supporting staff to do the right thing.

Acting Now Reduces Risk Later

The new guidance has made previously hidden training gaps visible. Addressing them proactively allows practices to:

•    demonstrate strong governance
•    protect patients and staff
•    reduce complaint and litigation risk
•    show leadership during inspections

Waiting until an incident, complaint or inspection highlights the gap is considerably more costly.

Why not have a look at and book one of our updated Chaperoning Workshops?

Chaperone Training for Practices in England - click here

Chaperone Training for Practices in other UK Nations - click here