Worried about a Child
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility tell someone!
Please contact Specialist Children’s Services or the Police immediately:
Kent Specialist Children’s Services – Central Duty Team
Telephone: 03000 411111
Fax: 03000 412345
Emergency Out of Hours
Telephone: 03000 419191
E-mail: [email protected] (this link will open in a new window – popups must be allowed)
Kent Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit: 01622 690 690
Most children enjoy generally happy childhood experiences within their own family. Unfortunately for some this is not the case. During difficult family times, everyone who knows the child must do the best they can to protect them from future harm.
Spot Abuse
You may be concerned about a child or young person. You may or may not know them, or even their name. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Abuse can take many different forms, such as neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse and even emotional abuse.
Take Responsibility
Don’t assume that someone else will take responsibility and make that phone call. You could help to save a child’s life. If you are worried, report it.
Safeguarding Adults
Keeping adults safe from abuse
What to do if you think someone is at immediate risk of harm
Contact the emergency services in the first instance by calling 999.
Alternatively you can contact:
- Kent County Council
on 03000 41 61 61 - Medway Council
on 01634 333 111 - Kent and Medway out of hours service
on 03000 41 91 91.
What is abuse?
Abuse is a breach of a person’s rights, and may be a single act or happen repeatedly over a period of time. Abuse may be deliberate, but may also happen as a result of poor care practices or ignorance. It can happen anywhere, including your home, a residential or nursing home, at hospital, day centre or in a public place.
Abuse can take many forms and may include:
- physical abuse,
- sexual abuse,
- financial abuse,
- psychological abuse,
- neglect or
- discriminatory abuse.
A vulnerable person may be neglected, persuaded to agree to something against their will or taken advantage of because they do not fully understand the consequences of their choices or actions. All these things count as abuse and in many cases will count as a criminal offence.
Anyone may abuse, but it is usually someone known to the vulnerable person.
It is everyone’s right to live in a safe environment, free from abuse.
