Reporting Concerns
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.
If your agency or organisation has a policy/procedure, you should follow them.
If your agency/organisation has no policy or procedure, you should follow these steps:
Emergency
If a child is in immediate danger, you should contact the police (call 999 or 0845 113 5000) or call an Ambulance (Call 999).
Non Emergency
If there is no immediate danger or you need advice or information, you should discuss your concern with a Manager or Designated Professional. You could also contact Sandwell's Access Service (ACCESS) (Children's Social Care) on 0845 351 0131 (out of office hours is the same number) or the NSPCC.
The ACCESS Services - a single point of contact
This should be read in conjunction with the following which give more guidance on when to make a referral:
The Access Team provides a single point of contact and gives professionals and members of the public, the opportunity to discuss children and young people’s support needs with specialist child care professionals. These staff are able to deal with issues that span levels 2 – 4 services i.e. children who have additional needs, children in need and those in need of protection.
Are you concerned about someone who is spending time with your child?
If you are concerned about someone who is spending time with your child and would like to find out if the have any convictions for sexual offences against children, visit: West Midlands Police website for information on: Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme
Allegations about a Colleague/Professional
If your concerns or suspicions are about a colleague or professional/carer (including volunteers), you must report them. Talk to a Manager, Designated Professional or contact Sandwell's Access Service (ACCESS) (Children's Social Care) on 0845 351 0131 (out of office hours is the same number) or the NSPCC
Procedures/Advice
If you wish, you can browse the Sandwell SCB Procedures Manual e.g. if you wish to obtain information about Confidentiality, how Child Protection Enquiries will be undertaken or about Information Sharing. Alternatively, call the Sandwell's Access Service (ACCESS) (Children's Social Care) on 0845 351 0131 (out of office hours is the same number) or the NSPCC.
You can also download general guidance ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’.
For more detail of the Referral process and what happens next in Sandwell, please see the following Sandwell SCB Procedures: