together

Keeping children safe is everyone’s business, so a joined-up approach between services is vital. We break down the best practice procedures for England and Wales.

Contact the local authority children’s social care and/or the police. They will advise you of the next steps to take.

Follow the advice of the local authority children’s social care and/or the police. Make a report verbally and follow up any written requirements within 24 hours.

If any person has knowledge, concerns or suspicions that a child is suffering, has suffered, or is likely to be at risk of harm, it is their responsibility to ensure that the concerns are referred to local authority children’s social care/local safeguarding partners and/or the police.

Share information with the designated safeguarding officer within your setting. If you’re a childminder and the safeguarding lead for your setting, follow your policy and procedure.

Still have a concern that a child is experiencing or at risk of abuse, neglect or other kinds of harm?

Share information with parents/carers if it’s safe to do so, advice can be sought from the local authority children’s social care if needed.

Keep accurate records and ensure ongoing monitoring of the child – refer to your setting policy for how to record a concern.

and parents are confident that all possible steps to protect children from abuse are taken”.

The flowcharts shown above – for England and Wales respectively – are designed to remind you of the correct procedure to follow if you have a concern.

Share information with parents/carers and consider if the child or family needs additional support. Refer to information, advice, guidance, and support services with the permission of the parents/carers.

For providers in Wales, the procedure shown in the flowchart is universal.

But in England each local authority has a specific way of managing safeguarding, meaning the onus is on the individual practitioner

Is the child at immediate risk?

Contact the duty officer within the relevant social services department and/or the police. They will advise you of the next steps to take.

Share information with the designated safeguarding officer within your setting. If you’re a childminder and the safeguarding lead for your setting, follow your policy and procedure.

Follow the advice of social services and/or the police. Make a report verbally and follow up any written requirements within 24 hours.

If any person has knowledge, concerns,or suspicions that a child is suffering, has suffered, or is likely to be at risk of harm, it is their responsibility to ensure that the concerns are referred to social services and/or the police.

Still have a concern that a child is experiencing or at risk of abuse, neglect or other kinds of harm?

Share information with parents/carers if it’s safe to do so. Advice can be sought from social services if needed.

to know your local arrangements – which should be in your setting’s safeguarding policy.

If you and your setting plan appropriately and stick to the agreed policies and procedures, then the children in your care are sure to be in safe hands. CP

Keep accurate records and ensure ongoing monitoring of the child – refer to your setting policy for how to record a concern.

Share information with parents/carers and consider if the child or family needs additional support. Refer to information, advice, guidance and support services with the permission of the parents/carers.

PACEY’s main safeguarding page: pacey.org.uk/mypacey/safeguarding Ofsted guidance on inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills (England): bit.ly/ofsted-safeguarding-inspection Working together to safeguard children (England): bit.ly/gov-working-together

Safeguarding procedures (Wales): safeguarding.wales/en