Professionals

Important

Call 999 if it is an emergency and the child is in immediate danger

As a worker or a volunteer you are likely to encounter children during the course of your normal activities and you are in a unique position to be able to observe signs of abuse or neglect, or changes in behaviour which may indicate a child may be being abused or neglected.

We all have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, until they are safe and well. This part of our website provides up to date information to assist workers and volunteers in improving the safety and wellbeing of children in the city. It is for anyone whose work brings them into contact with children and families.

You should make sure that you are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect, that you question the behaviour of children and parents/carers and don’t necessarily take what you are told at face value. You should make sure you know where to turn to if you need to ask for help and that you know how to refer to children’s social care or to the police if you suspect that a child is at risk of harm or is in immediate danger. You should be guided by the following key principles:

• Children have a right to be safe and should be protected from all forms of abuse and neglect
• Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility
• It is better to help children as early as possible, before issues escalate and become more damaging
• Children and families are best supported and protected when there is a co- ordinated response from all relevant agencies

This section aims to help you with that and also to give you all the information you need to understand the local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements that are in place in our area.

If you are worried a child is being abused or neglected please visit our Worried about a child? page.