FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who should I contact if I am concerned about a child or young person? |
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Please see the Locations and Contacts section of this website by clicking here. |
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Is there more child abuse nowadays? |
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Throughout history there has always been cruelty to children, but society's attitudes have changed over time and we have become more aware of child abuse and less accepting of this behaviour. We have also developed better skills in recognition of abuse, and have more knowledge of the long - term detrimental consequences of abuse in childhood. |
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What happens after I have made a referral? |
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Police and social work staff establish the facts about the circumstances giving rise to the suspicion of abuse. They then decide if there are grounds for concern and try to identify the sources and levels of risk which exist. This will help with the decision about whether protective measures need to be taken and if a criminal investigation needs to be carried out. |
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Can I make an anonymous referral? |
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Yes, although your details would be kept confidential by any agency you gave them to, and only used to progress their enquiries. It is often useful to be able to go back to the referrer to confirm information and also to provide feedback on the progress of the situation. |
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Will the authorities put the child in care? I don't want to split a family up. |
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No child is removed from its parents without very clear evidence to support this action. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child state that "public authorities should promote the upbringing of children by their families" and all the evidence supports that children are best cared for in the family home. In the few cases where parents are unable to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children, extended family members can sometimes care for them, and this is the first option that the local authority would pursue. |
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What if am wrong and the child is not being abused? |
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If there is no evidence to support an allegation of abuse, no action will be taken. It's always better to have a situation checked out and find that all is well, than to miss something, and find out later that a child or young person did not get the help they needed at the time they needed it. |
