After reviewing partnerships, building relationships, and formalising agreements —here's when and how to actually use them.
You've done the groundwork from our previous articles: reviewed your partnerships, built stronger relationships, and created formal MoUs. Now your staff need to know exactly when to pick up the phone.
The Golden Rule:
When in Doubt, Reach Out
Always involve external agencies when:
- A child is at immediate risk of harm
- You suspect abuse or neglect
- An allegation is made against a staff member
- You're dealing with serious criminal activity
- A family refuses to engage with your concerns
No exceptions. No delays. No second-guessing.
Your Quick Reference Guide
🚨 Call Police Immediately When:
- Physical or sexual abuse is suspected
- A child has unexplained injuries
- There's immediate danger to any child
- Criminal activity is involved
- Someone threatens violence
Contact: 999 for emergencies, 101 for non-urgent concerns
📞 Contact Children's Services When:
- You have ongoing concerns about a child's welfare
- A child discloses abuse or neglect
- You notice significant changes in behaviour or appearance
- Parents/carers aren't meeting basic needs
- There are mental health or substance abuse issues affecting care
Contact: Your local authority children's services team
⚖️ Involve Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) When:
- Any allegation against staff, volunteers, or contractors
- Inappropriate behaviour towards children
- Possible criminal offences involving children
- Concerns about someone's suitability to work with children
Contact: Local Authority Designated Officer
🏥 Engage Health Services When:
- Medical concerns about a child's condition
- Mental health issues affecting safety
- Suspected neglect of medical needs
- Developmental concerns
- Substance abuse issues
Contact: GP, school nurse, or relevant health professional
The 24-Hour Rule
- Immediate concerns: Act within minutes
- Serious concerns: Contact within 24 hours
- General welfare concerns: Contact within 48 hours
- Follow-up required: Contact within one week
Document everything. Every conversation, every decision, every delay.
Common Mistakes That Cost Lives
❌ "We'll handle it internally first" - Some situations require immediate external support
❌ "It's probably nothing" - Trust your instincts; professionals can assess properly
❌ "We don't want to overreact" - Better to be wrong than sorry
❌ "Let's wait and see" - Children can't wait for adults to be certain
❌ "It's not our responsibility" - Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility
Your Staff Workshop Checklist
Before the Workshop:
- Book all key staff (no exceptions)
- Gather recent case examples (anonymised)
- Print contact cards for everyone
- Prepare scenario-based exercises
- Update all contact information
Workshop Agenda (90 minutes):
0-15 mins: Why this matters - real case examples
15-45 mins: When to involve each agency - clear criteria
45-75 mins: Scenario practice - hands-on exercises
75-90 mins: Contact details and next steps
Scenarios to Practice:
- Child arrives with unexplained bruising
- Staff member accused of inappropriate behaviour
- Parent appears intoxicated at pickup
- Child discloses abuse at home
- Colleague expresses concerns about another staff member
Make It Stick: Post-Workshop Actions
Week 1:
- Laminated contact cards on every desk
- Quick reference posters in staff areas
- Follow-up email with key points
- Test knowledge with quick quiz
Month 1:
- Review any incidents since training
- Address any confusion or questions
- Update procedures based on feedback
- Plan refresher sessions
Ongoing:
- Include in all new staff inductions
- Annual refresher workshops
- Regular contact updates
- Case study discussions
Digital Tools That Help
Modern safeguarding benefits from platforms that provide:
- Verified contact information for all agencies
- Secure communication channels for sensitive information
- Audit trails showing when and how concerns were escalated
- Real-time updates on case progress and outcomes
Consider how digital solutions like Safeguard-Me can support your staff by providing instant access to verified agency contacts and secure communication channels when every minute counts.
The Bottom Line
Your staff need three things:
- Clear criteria for when to involve external agencies
- Up-to-date contact information for all key partners
- Confidence that they'll be supported for raising concerns
Remember: It's better to make ten unnecessary calls than miss one that could have saved a child.
When you've built strong partnerships and trained your staff properly, involving external agencies becomes a natural part of keeping children safe—not a last resort when everything else has failed.