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Safeguarding Children - Plymouth
Abuse and neglect can happen to any child at any age from pre-birth up to the age of 18 years.
Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. There are many forms of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, and emotional abuse.
If you have safeguarding concerns about a child that requires a social worker please send the MASH contact form to mash@plymouth.gov.uk.
If it is an urgent safeguarding concern, please make an immediate referral by phoning the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01752 668000, or 01752 346984 out of hours.
If you would like advice or guidance about a family or child you work with, please book a conversation with one of our Family Support Workers using our online form: Plymouth Early Help and SEND Advice line. We can offer support around issues such as emotional wellbeing, parenting guidance, school attendance, social and emotional development and SEND concerns using this service. Call backs are available from 9am to 4pm each weekday via the advice line and the booking form gives you the opportunity to choose a half-hour slot that works for you.
The RCGP/NSPCC Safeguarding Children Toolkit for General Practice
Safeguarding Children and Young People - Rules and Competencies for Healthcare staff
Working together to safeguard children
Plymouth Schools, education, childcare information
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
CSE is when an individual takes sexual advantage of a child or young person under the age of 18 years for that individual's own benefit. Power is developed over the victim through threats, bribes, violence and humiliation or being told that they are loved. CSE affects both girls and boys. Exploited young people may go onto exploit peers.
If you are concerned that a child or young person is at risk of CSE contact MASH (see above contacts) and ask to discuss with the REACH team (Reducing Exploitation and Absence from Care and Home). Your call will be taken by a customer services advisor who will forward your details and enquiry to the REACH team so that they can respond.
Plymouth Children's Gateway Tel: 01752 668000 – select Children's Services, option 1
NHS England pocket guide with advice for healthcare staff regarding what Child Sexual Exploitation
Spotting the signs of child sexual exploitation
Fabricated or Induced Illness by Carers FII
Fabricated or Induced Illness by Carers (FII) can cause significant harm to children. FII involves a well child being presented by a carer as ill or disabled, or an ill or disabled child being presented with a more significant problem than he or she has in reality, and suffering harm as a consequence. There are particular challenges for paediatricians and other professionals in terms of managing an FII case.
Plymouth Children's Gateway Tel: 01752 668000 – select Children's Services, option 1 (without prior discussion with family, there is a theoretical chance this could place the child at a greater risk)
Female Genital Mutilation FGM
FGM is illegal in Britain. A health professional who is aware that a girl under the age of 18 years has either undergone FGM or is at risk of undergoing FGM must under the Serious Crimes Act 2015 report this to the Police. A referral will also need to be sent to MASH.
Plymouth Children's Gateway Tel: 01752 668000 – select Children's Services, option 1 and Police 101
For further advice on legislation the NSPCC Female genital mutilation (FGM) legislation, policy and guidance is useful.
PREVENT
PREVENT is part of the UK's counter terrorism strategy, aimed at reducing the risk of people (including patients and/or staff) becoming involved and know who to discuss our concerns with. The strategy has four key elements:
- Pursue – to stop terrorist attacks
- Prevent – to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism
- Protect – to strengthen our protection against terrorist attack
- Prepare – where a terrorist attack cannot be stopped, to lessen the impact
Refer – If safeguarding concern – Plymouth Children's Gateway Tel: 01752 668000 – select Children's Services, option 1 and inform Devon and Cornwall Police on 999 if emergency or on 101
If following a referral to Children's Social Care, the referring professional is not happy with the outcome; the Local Safeguarding Children Board Escalation Policy must be used to highlight the concerns to a higher level of management. If the referring professionals feel that following the outcome decision of the referral is not enabling the child to remain safe it is the responsibility of that professional to escalate this further directly with the Local Authority Safeguarding Manager
Link for GP safeguarding toolkit
The Intercollegiate document for safeguarding children informs health professionals on levels of training required for all practice staff
Training for GPs for safeguarding can be found on the safeguarding board's website
Management and storage of child protection records in general practice
This guideline has been signed off on behalf of NHS Devon.
Publication date: July 2016
Updated: May 2023
