Introduction
Child protection involves taking steps to safeguard children and young people at risk or suffering from physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
Safeguarding children standards
The government defines safeguarding as:
“The process of protecting children from abuse or neglect, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care that enables children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully.”
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the rights of children to be free from abuse. In England, the law states that people who work with children and young people have to try to keep them safe. Organisations are also required to talk and work together to agree how best to collaborate in safeguarding children.
What you should do if you think a child is being abused
If you think you or the child is in immediate danger and needs urgent help, please call the police on 999.
Please contact us if you are:
- Concerned that a child may be suffering physical, sexual or emotional abuse or is being neglected
- A child or young person and you are being abused or neglected
- A parent or carer and you feel you are harming your child or are close to doing so
Professionals - Reporting safeguarding concerns
Make a referral for a child or young person in need, or where there is reason to suspect they are likely to suffer significant harm because of abuse or neglect. Professionals can report a safeguarding concern on the Joint Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Safeguarding website (link below). There is also full supporting guidance, risk assessment tools and threshold information on the website.
Public - Reporting safeguarding concerns
Please let us know if you have safeguarding concerns, or are worried about a child.
If you are not a professional involved with the child or family, you do not have to give your name and your conversation will be treated confidentially.
Find out more about how the council delivers our safeguarding and early help services.
What is child abuse
A child may experience more than one type of abuse or neglect.
Further information
Find out more about safeguarding people who may be susceptible to radicalisation on the ACT Early website.
You can also get advice and help from NSPCC or call 0808 800 500 for all concerns around abuse and neglect, and from Stop It Now! for concerns around sexual abuse.
Children and young people can also contact Childline for support.