Gathering information to make a report

Anyone, including the public, may report actual, alleged or suspected abuse or neglect directly to social services by phone, e-mail or in writing.

All reports must be made immediately by practitioners to social services, and/or police where it is suspected that a crime has been committed or is being committed.

Where a report is made by telephone to local authority social services, the practitioner making the report must confirm the report in writing within 1 working day.

Practitioners must use the report forms provided by the local authority.

A report to social services should include the information available about the child, family and their circumstances, considering the role of the individual and their agency.

Information to include in a report

Whilst it is important to provide the information in the table below, if immediate action is required to protect the child at risk this must take precedence over gathering information.

The information required should be proportionate and include:

• Basic information about the child and their family;
• Details about the cause for concern regarding risk of harm and any plans in place providing immediate protection;
• Relevant information held by the agency that provides insight into the child at risk of harm, their family/carers and environment.

Basic information

• Full name, any aliases, date of birth; address, any known previous addresses;
• Identity of those with parental responsibility if children;
• Names, date of birth and information about all household members, including any other children or who may be at risk of harm in the family, and significant people who live outside the household;
• Ethnicity, first language and religion;
• Any known need for an interpreter, signer or other communication aid;
• Any known additional needs;
• Knowledge of attendance/non at school, day centre, hospital appointments etc.
• Agencies currently involved with the individual, family and carers known to the referrer;
• Whether consent has been obtained for the report.

Cause for concern

Nature of concern: are they experiencing harm or at risk of harm?

• Detailed description of any injuries sustained and any allegations, for example sexual abuse, their sources, timing and location;
• Whether the child is safe currently or is in need of immediate protection and actions to protect taken so far;
• Description of the child/ren who are the cause for concern;
• The identity and current whereabouts of the suspected/alleged perpetrator;
• The individual's current location if at risk of immediate harm;
• Impact of incident and emotional and physical condition;
• Risk of any repeated incidents to individuals and/or others;
• Any information that may affect the safety of staff;
• Concern about a practitioner.

Information held

Information practitioner/agency holds about:

• Health and wellbeing of the child;
• Carer/s capacity to meet their needs of child;
• Socio-economic factors that may be affecting the individual, their family and carers for example, loss of job;
• Any significant/important recent or historical events/incidents;
• The referrer’s relationship and knowledge of the child or adult at risk and their parents/carers;
• Known current or previous involvement of other agencies/ professionals;
• Description of the child and the injury sustained.

Whilst the above provides details of the information that should be gathered it is recognised that not all practitioners will have this detail.

Lack of detail must not prevent reporting a safeguarding concern.

Remember that a failure to share information can place a child at increased risk of harm and is a common feature of child practice reviews. Whilst information in isolation may seem insignificant when put together with information from other sources it may become important to safeguarding the child at risk.

For futher guidance see: (Working Together to Safeguard People; Information sharing to Safeguard Children)

Pointers for Practice: Making A Report:

Pointers for Practice: How to Apply the Safeguarding Process to Practice