What to do if you are concerned about a child

 

 

If you are concerned that a child / young person is at risk of significant harm due to their, or other people's, use of the Internet or mobile phones, a telephone referral must be made as soon as possible to the appropriate area Nine Week Service, in Children and Families Services. Their contact details can be found in the table below.

 

 

Following the telephone contact, you should confirm your concerns in writing to the area Nine Week Service within 24 hours. This should include information as listed in the South Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Boards’ Child Protection Procedures 2007: Section 5.7 - Information required when making a Referral.

 

If a CAF has been completed on the child or young person, send a copy with the written confirmation. If you do not have a copy, you should reference to the completed CAF and who has a copy, in your written confirmation.

 

 

If you need to refer a child who you think is at risk of significant harm outside of office hours, you should ring the Out of Hours Service (Mon – Thurs 16.30 to 09.00, Fri – Mon 16.30 to 09.00) telephone (0114) 205 3332; fax 0114 273 6725.

 

 

If you are concerned that a child / young person is vulnerable due to their, or other people's use of the Internet or mobile phones (but is not at risk of immediate harm) you should consider undertaking a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) or updating an existing CAF, and referring them to the appropriate Multi-Agency Support Team (MAST) (see contact details below). Appropriate support services will be put in place for the child / young person and their family, in order to improve their outcomes.

 

You should also undertake a check on SafetyNET, to see if anyone is already working the child or young person, and to see if a CAF has been carried out. (http://www.safeguardingsheffieldchildren.org.uk/welcome/earlyinterventionintegratedpractice/safetynet) 

 

The Social Workers for Prevention Intervention (SWPI) are available to support and advice you. This will ensure that appropriate support services are put in place for the child. They can be contacted via the appropriate MAST office, contact details below.

 

 

 

 

For further information, see South Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Boards’ Child Protection Procedures 2007, Chapter 5: Referring Concerns to Children’s Social Care or the Police.

 

If the concern is about abuse or risk of abuse by someone known to the child / young person or their family, an enquiry should be made to the Child Protection Enquiry Team (273 4925) to see if they are previously known to CYPS. This should be followed by a referral to Children and Families Services, if appropriate. Children and Families Services should involve the police in cases where a criminal offence may have been committed.

 

If the concern is about abuse or risk of abuse by someone not previously known to the child or the child’s family, an enquiry should be made to the Child Protection Enquiry Team (273 4925) and the matter should be reported directly to the police (0114 220 2020). The police should initiate a strategy discussion involving Children and Families Services and other agencies, if there are wider child welfare concerns within the family. The South Yorkshire Child Protection Procedures also include guidance about talking to parents / carers (5.4).

 

 

You can obtain advice about safeguarding concerns in relation to digital or interactive technology from Sheffield Safeguarding Children Advisory Service on (0114) 205 3535 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm).