If you are concerned that a child or young person is being abused, neglected or is in danger, please follow this advice; Referring a safeguarding concern to Children's Social Care
There is a lot of information for parents and carers about what abuse and neglect means:
Help is also available from local Family Intervention Service (formerly MAST). It will help to have the postcode where the child or young person normally lives to hand so you can speak to the correct area team. If you cannot provide this information you should still call and any team will respond to your enquiry in the first instance.
The 1989 Children Act says that Children's Social Care at Sheffield City Council should look into all concerns about children and young people in Sheffield that they are told about.
The Sheffield Children Safeguarding Partnership is responsible for monitoring child protection in Sheffield. Different agencies such as health, education, police and the Children's Social Care work together to ensure that all organisations are doing their best to protect children and young people.
Staff in agencies that work with children and their parents can make an initial 'enquiry' about your children if they have concerns about their welfare. This is done through the Quality Assurance Involvement Service (QAIS), Child Protection Enquiry Team.
SCSP Child Protection and Safeguarding Manual
1.7 Initial Child Protection Conferences
What does a child protection enquiry involve?
A child protection enquiry starts because someone has concerns that a child or young person may be being physically injured, neglected, emotionally or sexually harmed.
This concern may come from:
- the Police, Children's Social Care, the NSPCC or other agencies
- a parent or carer
- a neighbour
- a teacher at a child’s school or nursery, a health visitor or another health worker
- from a hospital when a child has been taken to the casualty department or admitted to a ward
Some concerns are made anonymously. Some turn out to be malicious, but others turn out to be correct. Therefore every concern is treated seriously. Any concern or allegation will be looked into as soon as possible.
In the very early stages Children's Social Care will make enquiries about your family with other agencies such as schools, nursery, GP, police and other health services.
- If it seems necessary, you and your child will then be seen and interviewed by a Social Worker and/or Police Officer to discuss the allegations. This will usually be within 24 hours of the allegation being reported to Children's Social Care.
- After these initial enquiries have been completed a decision will be made whether to pursue the matter further. If no further action is to be taken you will be informed of this as soon as possible. If it is decided that further action is necessary you will be informed of what action is to be taken.
Child Protection Conferences
The Child Protection Information Leaflet for Families
If you have any questions about these processes please discuss them with your social worker, or contact us here.
Information for children and young people about child protection conferences can be found here.
You can help to make sure your child is safe when they are being coached by taking an interest in the sports club. By keeping in contact with the coach and the club and you will be better able to protect your child from any harm.
Things you can do:
- Listen to your child
- Observe their behaviour
- Observe their physical appearance
If you have concerns
If you have concerns find someone at the sports club you can talk to. If your concern is about the coach, you need to be aware of someone else at the sports club you could speak to.
Policies and procedures
The club should have policies and procedures to cover all aspects of health and safety, including safeguarding children and child protection; make sure you have a copy.
Useful resources
Radicalisation is the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies. If you are worried someone close to you is becoming radicalised act early and seek help. The sooner you reach out, the quicker the person you care about can be protected from being groomed and exploited by extremists.
Police forces across the country have specially trained Prevent officers who work with professionals in health, education, local authorities and charities, as well as faith and community groups to help vulnerable people move away from extremism. They are here to listen and offer help and advice. Receiving support is voluntary.
Friends and family are best placed to spot the signs, so trust your instincts and share your concerns in confidence.
They can help if you act early. You won't be wasting police time and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.
To find out more about how to help someone close to you visit actearly.uk