Safeguarding concerns about a child
Safeguarding concerns about a child
If you are worried about a child's safety or welfare, whether it is your own child or another child you know, it is always right to raise it. You do not need to be certain something is wrong, and you can ask for advice before deciding what to do next.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
National helplines
NSPCC Helpline
Helpline: 0808 800 5000
Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm by phone; email support available most days
For any adult worried about a child, including abuse, neglect or general welfare concerns. Free to call, with an option to remain anonymous.
Childline
Helpline: 0800 1111
Hours: 24 hours a day, every day
Free and confidential support for children and young people themselves.
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
Cafcass safeguards children's interests within family court proceedings, checking with police and local authorities for welfare concerns and, where needed, preparing reports to help judges decide arrangements in a child's best interests.
Reporting a concern locally
You do not need to wait for a court case, and you do not need to be a professional, to raise a concern with your local council's children's services team.
Norfolk County Council: report a concern about a child
Helpline: 0344 800 8020
Hours: Daytime; out-of-hours calls are routed to the emergency duty team
Please confirm current hours directly with Norfolk County Council, as council contact arrangements can change.
Cambridgeshire County Council: children's social care
Helpline: 0345 045 5203 (daytime); 01733 234724 (out-of-hours Emergency Duty Team)
Please confirm current hours directly with Cambridgeshire County Council, as council contact arrangements can change.
Suffolk County Council: Customer First
Freephone: 0808 800 4005
The same number is used for both daytime and out-of-hours reports. Please confirm current arrangements directly with Suffolk County Council.
Essex County Council: Children and Families Hub
Helpline: 0345 603 7627 (daytime); 0345 606 1212 (out-of-hours)
Hours: Daytime line: Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5pm; Friday 8.45am to 4.15pm
Lincolnshire County Council: Children's Services
Helpline: 01522 782111 (daytime); 01522 782333 (out-of-hours)
Hours: Daytime line: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Telephone only; this team does not accept referrals by email.
Anywhere else in the UK
Every local council has its own children's services team. If you are outside Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex or Lincolnshire, use GOV.UK's local council finder to identify your council, then search for that council's name together with "report a concern about a child" to find their current number.
Find your local council on GOV.UK
Wherever you are in the UK, the NSPCC Helpline above is also available to anyone worried about a child, and 999 should always be used in an emergency.
If you're also affected by domestic abuse
Safeguarding concerns about a child and domestic abuse often go together. Our Domestic abuse and safety page has confidential national helplines, and your mediator can talk through how to keep everyone safe during mediation.
If you'd like to talk any of this through, contact us on 01603 620588, or ask your mediator.