Overview of section

Within this section practitioners will find procedures explaining what they must do if they have concerns about a child at risk of harm, abuse and/or neglect including:

• the statutory duty to report explained
• practitioner responsibilities to report
• the duty to report concerns (including abuse and neglect) about a practitioner
• where practitioners should be reporting concerns about abuse and neglect including contact outside of office hours.

Specific situations a practitioner may encounter in relation to children and ways in which to respond are detailed in:

• managing immediate concerns about the safety of a child
• when to contact the police
• information on recognising a child at risk of harm including:
  • evidence required
  • abusive settings
• what to do if there are safeguarding concerns about an unborn child
• what to do if a child tells you that they or another child is or has been abused or neglected
• what to do following a child ‘telling’ about abuse or neglect
• ways of seeking agency advice and
  • contacting social services for support/guidance
  • outcomes of agency and social services initial discussions
  • recording discussions
• managing concerns from the general public

Practitioners completing a duty to report have responsibilities in terms of:

• anonymity
• seeking consent to a report
• gathering information to make a report
• involvement in the process following a report
• further expectations of the person making the report
• disagreeing with the decision made by social services: resolving differences