Every child has the right to feel safe, and to be protected from abuse and neglect. Professionals working in roles that bring them into direct contact with children, such as education/ early years, health and social care, sports and recreational clubs, and the police, have a greater responsibility to safeguard children. It is important to remain vigilant and to know exactly what to do if you have concerns about abuse.
Be alert to the signs
Abuse can take many forms: physical, emotional, sexual or neglect. The warning signs will vary from child to child, but you should look out for:
- sudden behavioural difficulties
- poor hygiene
- ill-fitting/ dirty clothes
- poor attendance at school
- reluctance to go home
- parents who are dismissive of practitioners’ concerns.
Understand your organisation’s policies
Take the time to read and understand your organisation’s safeguarding procedures. They will set out the internal processes to follow if you have concerns.
Listen carefully
If a child chooses to confide in you, listen to them carefully and without judgement. Don’t ask them any leading questions; it is important that they describe the situation in their own words. Reassure them that they have done the right thing and explain to the child that you need to tell someone who can help.
Write it down
It is crucial to document everything the child tells you in their own words (and ideally word for word). Do this as soon as possible after the conversation. Do not paraphrase. Be sure to carefully record any names, dates, times or places mentioned by the child.
Keep the child safe
If you think the child might be in immediate danger, take the necessary steps to keep the child safe.
Do not investigate
It is not your role to investigate the concern, and under no circumstances should you approach or confront the alleged perpetrator. Doing so may compromise the formal investigation.
Report it
You must report what the child has told you immediately. Your organisation’s safeguarding policies should provide details of whom to report to internally – there should be a Designated Safeguarding Officer/ Lead who will be responsible for ensuring a full investigation takes place.
Keep polices up-to-date
Ensure your safeguarding policy and training are reviewed and updated regularly. Everyone in your organisation should know what to do if a concern arises.
It is important to trust your instincts, so if something doesn’t feel right, take action. Don’t allow any allegation, suspicion or concern about abuse to go unreported.