Protecting children
Report your concerns about a child
If you are concerned about a child’s safety or wellbeing or you want help to look after your own child, you should contact Children’s Services at the Council.
Our priority is to help parents look after their children. We know that with a little assistance, most families can sort out their difficulties.
How and when to contact us
If a child is in immediate danger, you should always call the Police on 999.
Anyone who is concerned about a child’s safety or wellbeing can contact us. You can call us during working hours using the number listed on the right of this page.
When you contact us, we will talk to you to find out what your concerns are.
If it’s clear that a child is at risk, we will make some enquiries and arrange to meet with the child and the parents or carers. This is called an initial assessment.
What Children's Services does
While all children have basic needs which should be met through education, leisure and health services, we can provide additional support and services to the children who most need them.
We aim to provide services that:
- prevent family breakdown
- avoid children being separated from their families and communities
- promote the health, education and social development of children within their own families
- prevent children from suffering harm and abuse
- ensure children only enter the care system when their family circumstances have broken down
- protect children who have been harmed.