Safeguard-Me Blog

When do you call for backup and involve other organisations?

2025-07-21 11:50
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:

  1. Child arrives with unexplained bruising
  2. Staff member accused of inappropriate behaviour
  3. Parent appears intoxicated at pickup
  4. Child discloses abuse at home
  5. 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:
  1. Clear criteria for when to involve external agencies
  2. Up-to-date contact information for all key partners
  3. 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.