Child Protection

All parents experience difficulties at various times and can be helped by other family members or close friends. However, there may be times when a child can be at risk of significant harm and professional support needs to be provided. All children have a right to be protected from harm, especially from other people. In this section you can find information about:

why you might be concerned about a child
what to do if you have concerns
what action will be taken.

Why might you be concerned about a child?

Children rarely tell if they are being abused. However, there may be signs that make you feel concerned and these may be an indication of a child being neglected or abused. You may notice one or a combination of the following - the child or young person may:

have unexplained bruising, or bruising in an unexpected place
appear quiet, withdrawn, or afraid
be afraid to go home
appear constantly hungry, tired or untidy
be left unattended or unsupervised
have too much responsibility for their age
be acting in a sexually inappropriate way
be misusing drugs or alcohol
tell you something that sounds as if they have been hurt by someone.

The behaviour of an adult may cause you concern if they:

are acting in an aggressive, violent or sexual manner towards a child or young person
are misusing drink or drugs while caring for a child
leave their child unattended or with people who are unsuitable.

What to do if you have concerns

If you see behaviour that is of concern, or if a child or young person tells you something, you need to take them seriously, do something about it, and speak to someone. This could be a teacher, a doctor, a health visitor, a social worker, a police officer or nursery staff. If you would like more advice or information, you can contact:

Children Services Duty Social Worker
Council Chambers, Albert Place, Galashiels TD1 1EU
Tel: 01896 662762
Out of office hours, please telephone 01896 752111.

You can also speak to a confidential helpline such as:

the NSPCC (this link will take you to another site).
Childline 0800 1111
Parentline 0808 800 2222.

To ensure a child gets the best possible help:

give as much information as you can about the child or young person and their family or carer
describe what it was that concerned you
let the person know if there are any other things they should be aware of, for example, immediate risks for the child or any other child.

Will you need to give your name?

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 welfare. Please be aware that withholding your name can make it more difficult for those looking into your concerns. Any information you give may need to be shared with other professionals to ensure appropriate action is taken.

What action will be taken?

When you contact a professional about your concern, unless the child is in immediate danger, they will make some immediate enquiries before taking action. They will check to see if the child is known and what information is held about the child. All information will be seriously treated and acted upon. This may be an immediate reaction or a more planned response. Following enquiries professionals may, for example:

take immediate action to secure the safety of the child
provide support, help or advice to the family
provide a service to the child or family (for example, help with childcare) and where necessary referral to another agency may be provided
conduct criminal proceedings
record the concern but take no further action at this time.

When we suspect, witness or are told of a child that is being harmed we can react in many different ways. We may feel guilt, anger, disbelief or denial. Some of these reactions can prevent a family from getting the help they need. Many people do not help because they fear that:

children will be at further risk of harm, nothing will be done, the children would be taken away, the family may find out who reported them, telling may ruin relationships.

In reality it is best that action is taken early to stop things getting worse - and long-term abuse or neglect is more likely to cause problems for a child as he or she gets older. Even if you think an incident is a 'one-off', other professional agencies may already have concerns about the child, so your information may be important.