If you think a child is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, you should call the emergency services on 999.
You can also ring the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 to report immediate risks.
For non-emergencies, the Police can be contacted on 101.
It’s important to remember that the welfare of the child is paramount. However, it’s not up to you to decide whether or not a child has been abused, but to report concerns appropriately.
If you think an adult is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, you should call the emergency services on 999. Wherever possible let the adult know what you’re doing.
If the adult is not in immediate danger or injured, wherever possible you should discuss your concerns with the adult and look together at what should happen next.
Report a concern about a member of the workforce
The role of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) was introduced within ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ guidance in 2006. The LADO gives advice and guidance on how concerns or allegations should be investigated in respect of adults working with children.
- Essex LADO – 03330 139 797 lado@essex.gov.uk
- Southend LADO – 01702 534 539 lado@southend.gov.uk
- Thurrock LADO – lado@thurrock.gov.uk
If your sport or activity is part of an NGB
If your concern is about a child, young person, or something happening at a club or group which is affiliated to a national governing body (NGB) you should refer to their safeguarding procedures. There is usually a specific person designated to receive concerns, often called a club welfare officer.
The process may be similar to this:
- report your concern to the club welfare officer
- the club welfare officer may then go on to report the concern to the national governing body’s (NGB’s) lead safeguarding officer
- the club welfare officer or the lead safeguarding officer will then follow their organisation’s own case management process
- the club welfare officer or the lead safeguarding officer may go on to report the concern to statutory services such as the local authority designated officer (LADO) or police
If your sport or activity is not part of an NGB
If your concern is about a child, young person, or something happening at an activity that is not affiliated with an NGB you should:
- ask if the club or activity has a person who looks after safeguarding concerns (such as an organiser, coach or designed safeguarding lead)
- find out if the activity is being delivered with an active partnership as they will have a designated safeguarding person
- speak to the NSPCCHelpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org
- contact Essex County Council Social Care Team for children or adults
For further information, please visit the Child Protection in Sport Unit website for reporting child cases and the Ann Craft Trust website for reporting adult cases
