WORRIED ABOUT A CHILD IN MEDWAY?

If you are concerned that a child or young person living in Medway is suffering from harm please use the following contact details for Medway Council’s ‘First Response Service’ :

• Tel: 01634 334466
• 24 hour emergency number 03000 419191

Alternative telephone numbers & information if you have concerns about a child.

• NSPCC 0808 800 5000   email: help@nspcc.org.uk     www.nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do/report-abuse/
• Child Line 0800 1111    www.childline.org.uk
• Medway Police 01622 690690
• LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) 01634 331065 – see info on LADOs below

Useful contact details & information

• Non-emergency number 101
• Emergency number 999
• www.medwayscp.org.uk/mscb/info/5/mscb-1/34/worried-child

WHISTLE BLOWING
(Expressing concern about a member of staff)

If you are concerned about a child at the pre-school and/or feel uncomfortable about how a staff or committee member acts or speaks with the children, you must follow the procedures the pre-school has in place and tell the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Wendy Perkins. If you feel unhappy speaking to her, then speak to the Deputy DSLs, Nicola Hill, Pal Bains or Claire Fuller or the Committee Chairperson.

If you are unhappy with the response you receive, you must contact both Medway Council’s ‘First Response Service’ , as above, and then contact Ofsted:

tel: 0300 123 4666            email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

Local Authority Designated Officers

If you have a concern about a professional or volunteer who works with children, you need to contact the Local Authority Designated Officer, for advice and guidance. The Local Authority Designated Officer covers ALL settings where people work with children. This includes schools, hospitals, football clubs, church groups, and child minders – not just Medway Council employees.

What is the Local Authority Designated Officer’s role?  Provides advice, information and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations around allegations and concerns regarding paid and unpaid workers.  Manages and oversees individual cases from all partner agencies.  Ensures the child’s voice is heard and that they are safeguarded.  Ensures there is a consistent, fair and thorough process for all adults working with children and young people against whom an allegation is made.  Monitors the progress of cases to ensure they are dealt with as quickly as possible.  Recommends a referral and chairs the joint evaluation meeting (JEM) in cases where the allegation requires social care and other community professionals.

When should I contact the Local Authority Designated Officer? The Local Authority Designated Officer should be made aware of all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:  Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child  Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child  Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children

The Local Authority Designated Officer should be contacted within 1 working day of any allegations being made.

This could possibly lead to a referral for further investigation.

If you have a concern about an adult working or volunteering with children who may have behaved inappropriately, please report it to the LADO team using the referral form on: http://www.mscb.org.uk/ practitionersandvolunteers/lado-1.aspx

The completed referral form should be emailed to the Children Advice & Duty Service in the first instance: triage@medway.gov.uk