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Levels Safeguarding Training and Consultancy was set up by four experienced safeguarding GPs to provide bespoke safeguarding training to healthcare and other partner organisations across all four UK nations. 

We are passionate about safeguarding children and adults from abuse and neglect. We are equally passionate about equipping healthcare and associated staff with the practical knowledge and skills they need to safeguard their patients and communities effectively.  

Between us we have over 40 years of experience in general practice safeguarding – this includes NHS and Independent GP Practice Safeguarding Leads, ICB Named GPs for safeguarding and national safeguarding roles. See Table 1 for further details. We can provide face-to-face and virtual safeguarding training.

James Booth

Dr James Booth

  • Named GP Safeguarding, Essex ICS (current)
  • Named GP since 2010.
  • Co-Chair, National Network of Named GPs (current) 
  • Regional Chair, East of England, National Network of Named GPs (current)
  • Course author, presenter and safeguarding lead, NB Medical (current)
  • BMA GP Committee England representative for Essex (current)
  • Elected member, North Essex LMC (current)
  • Sessional GP, Chelmsford (current)
  • Policy Lead for Contracts and Regulations, BMA GPC England (former)
  • Vice-Chair and Board member, North Essex LMC (former)
  • Vice-Chair (Clinical), Mid-Essex Clinical Commissioning Group and Board safeguarding lead (former)
  • Named GP for Safeguarding for Mid-Essex PCT, then CCG, then Mid-and South Essex ICS (former roles within system)
  • GP Partner, Melbourne House Surgery, Chelmsford (former)
James Higgins

Dr James Higgins

  • NHS GP Partner and Safeguarding Lead, Brinnington Surgery (2010-present)
  • Named GP, Stockport (2015-March 2026)
  • Named GP Representative on NHS Digital Safeguarding Reference Group with focus on online access to GP Records including proxy access.
  • Awarded the NHSE Safeguarding Star Award (2025)
  • Member of NHSE Safeguarding Reference Group in relation to Accelerating Citizen Access to GP Data programme
  • Clinical Director for Tame Valley PCN (2019-present) & pioneer of safeguarding care co-ordinator roles within PCNs
  • GP trainer (2015 – present) 
  • CCG Locality Chair (2015 – 2019) 
Dr Taz Syed

Dr Taz Syed

  • Named Safeguarding GP, Southend & CPR CCGs, MSE HCP (2016 – Present)
  • RCGP Representative for Safeguarding (2025 – Present)
  • NHS GP Partner, The Pall Mall Surgery (2008 – present)
  • Designated Doctor for Safeguarding (current)
    STW ICB and Devon ICB
  • Former Chair, National Network of Named GPs (NNNGP) (2024 – 2026)
  • Former Chair, East of England Region and National Named GPs
  • Governing Body Member, Southend CCG/MSE HCP (2014 – 2022)
  • Chief Clinical Information Officer (CCIO), MSE HCP (2020 – 2024)
  • Awarded RCGP Essex Faculty recognition (2021)
  • Runner-up CCG Quality Award for safeguarding leadership (2018)
Dr Joy Shacklock

Dr Joy Shacklock

  • RCGP Clinical Policy Representative for Safeguarding (2017 – present)
  • RCGP GP Inspire Awards 2024. Winner of “The GP Voice” Award for RCGP safeguarding.
  • Named GP North Yorkshire and City of York (2016 – present)
    • Chair of MAPAG (Management of Abusive Patients in General Practice: Advisory Group)
    • Recipient of a North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Award, 2022, in recognition of contributions made to the work of the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership.
  • GP Partner, Medical Director & Practice Safeguarding Lead, Harrogate Private GP (2024 – present)
  • NHS GP Locum (2025 – present)
  • Member of the ISSN (Independent Sector Safeguarding Network) – leads the independent GP/primary care forum as part of this network (current)
  • Independent Safeguarding trainer and consultant (2021 – present)
  • NHS GP Safeguarding Lead, Homeless Health Lead, The Spa Surgery, Harrogate (2010 – 2023)
  • Safeguarding consultancy for the School of Medicine, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds (2021 – 2023).

We provide practical, evidence-based training that can be applied immediately in clinical practice.