What role do professionals and volunteers play in safeguarding children?
For those children who are suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, joint working is essential to safeguard and promote their welfare and, where necessary, to help bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes against children.
All professionals and volunteers should:
- be alert to potential signs of abuse or neglect
- be alert to the risks of harm that individual abusers, or potential abusers, may pose to children particularly within their organisation or group setting
- prioritise direct communication and positive and respectful; relationships with children, ensuring the child’s wishes and feelings underpin assessments and any safeguarding activities
- share and help to analyse information so that an assessment can be made of whether the child is suffering or is likely to suffer harm, their needs, and circumstances
- contribute to whatever actions are needed to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare; take part in regularly reviewing the outcomes for the child against specific plans
- work cooperatively with parents, unless this is inconsistent with ensuring the child’s safety.
Guidance:
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Referral Form (Word)
How do professionals and volunteers make referrals to local authority children’s social care where there are concerns about a child’s safety or welfare?
Referrals should be made in accordance with the thresholds of need and intervention guidance:
Request for Service form (word)
ERSCP effective support model (pdf)
Effective Support for Children, Young People & their Families in the East Riding of Yorkshire
View the introductory video for guidance, and how to use it to help inform your decision making.