Durham Safeguarding
Safeguarding children is everyone’s concern
Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
- protecting children from maltreatment
- preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
- ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
- taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes
If a child is in immediate danger or left alone, you should contact the police or call an ambulance on 999. There are numerous ways to report concerns about a child. Information on how to report both emergency and non-emergency abuse and neglect of a child is provided here.
As a concerned member of the public, if you suspect or believe a child is suffering or is likely to suffer Significant Harm, including any form of mistreatment or abuse, you should report your concerns. Any referral will be treated in the strictest confidence
Durham local hub information
This section provides professionals with information on how to make a Safeguarding Referral or make a Request for Early Help.
You can also access a range of information including procedures and assessment tools from the links on the left hand side of this page.
Making a Safeguarding Referral
If you are a professional and want to make a safeguarding referral please use the Children’s Services Safeguarding referral form.
The Threshold Guidance updated in September 2020, will also be a useful reference tool to help you.
Please email your completed form to firstcontact@durham.gov.uk
Safeguarding Board
Contact
First Contact/Social Care Direct
03000 267 979