Clackmannanshire Council Online

Concern for a Child

Concern for a Child

No one should be hurt. If you are a child or young person and you or one of your friends is at risk of being harmed, or if you have concerns that a child or young person is being abused or neglected, please let us know so we can help.

Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. Reporting concerns can help keep children safe.

You do not need proof - if something does not feel right, report it.

Eligibility

You should report a concern if you believe

• a child is being abused or neglected
• a child is at risk of harm
• a child is unsafe at home or elsewhere
• a child is being exploited online or offline

You may notice

• unexplained injuries
• changes in behaviour
• a child appearing frightened or withdrawn
• signs of neglect
• adults behaving inappropriately towards children

Signposting

If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact:

Contact details

Organisation	Day time	Night time/ weekends
Social Services	01259 225000	01786 470500
Police (emergency): If a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm	999	999
Police (non-emergency): If you are concerned about a child or young person who is not at immediate risk of harm	101	101
Health	Local health services and organisations
Scottish Children's Reporter Administration(SCRA)	0300 200 1555

You can report concerns anonymously, although providing contact details may assist enquiries.

Reporting concerns

If you wish to remain anonymous when you report a case of suspected child abuse, you can. However, it is helpful if you give your contact details as there might be further information you could give. The family will not be given your details unless you agree.

Any information about you will be treated with care. Any details, including your name, will not be revealed unless the child's safety requires it. Even if you do not give your name, enquiries can still be made into the child's care and welfare. However, withholding your name may make it more difficult for those looking into these concerns. Any information you give may need to be shared with other professionals to ensure appropriate action is taken to protect the child.

What happens next

When you contact a professional about your concern that a child is being abused, unless the child is in immediate danger, they will make some initial enquiries before taking action. They will check whether the child is known to Services, such as Education, Health, Police and Social Service professionals. All information will be treated seriously and acted upon. This may lead to immediate action or a more planned response.

You will be advised of the process in the case of suspect child abuse, but the outcome of an investigation will remain confidential.