Referring a safeguarding concern to Children's Social Care

If you are worried that a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm then telephone the Sheffield Safeguarding Hub
on 0114 273 4855 (24 hours) to speak to a social worker. If a child is in immediate danger then call 999 for a police response.

**Members of the public can discuss their concerns in confidence and if necessary, anonymously.**

The Sheffield Safeguarding Hub

Telephone: 0114 273 4855 (24 hours)

As we are a conversational front door, all referrals are telephone based and we do not accept written referrals. Conversations provide the best possible opportunity to help us understand what you are concerned about and ask appropriate questions to determine a child or young person’s circumstances and what help they may need.

What will happen when I contact the Sheffield Safeguarding Hub?

You will be put through to a trained 'screening' social worker, who will:

Take information from you
Provide a clear and focused telephone conversation
Analyse your information and give you clear advice in a way that is easily understood
Make a decision on how the concern will be dealt with
Tell you what will happen next

If the concern is progressed they will also:

record the discussion on the child’s file and progress the contact as agreed
Update parents, carers and professionals of the outcome, in writing, within 3 days of all completed referrals where it is safe to do so.

The Sheffield Safeguarding hub:

Includes South Yorkshire Police Officers, Social Workers including Early Help Prevention and Intervention Social Workers, Independent Domestic Violence Advisers and Health staff
Will respond to new concerns about vulnerable children and young people by providing an integrated service with swift and secure information sharing between professionals
Will signpost to Early Help services where children are not at risk but may need support
Will advise professionals to contact the allocated social worker for open cases
Does not replace calling the police – for non-urgent matters for police attention ring 101
If a child or young person is in immediate danger, contact the police on 999

Further Information for people who work with children and families

To Access Early Help please complete the following:

Early Help Assessment form where the children’s needs meet Thresholds of Need Levels 2 and 3
For further advice see this page and ring the Family Intervention Service on 0114 2037485

You should also:

Follow the guidance Making a Referral following the Identification of Child Safety and Welfare Concerns (SCSP Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures Manual).
Inform the family that you are contacting Children's Social Care unless this will put the child at risk (it is not essential to obtain consent for information sharing with other professionals, however if consent is obtained this will speed up decision making).
Be clear about your safeguarding concern, what it is and who it is about.
Refer to the Thresholds of Need Guidance to support the judgement about the level of concern being raised.
Where required by your agency, you can follow up your telephone referral to the Safeguarding Hub with a Multi-agency Confirmation Form MACF. Where a MACF is received with no associated telephone referral, this will be returned. The MACF which will be placed on file without interrogation so please make sure you have communicated all available information about your concerns at the point of your telephone referral.