Darlington Safeguarding

Safeguarding children is everyone’s concern 

Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as: 

  • protecting children from maltreatment  child_lost_a_loved_one.jpg
  • preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development  
  • ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care  
  • taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes 

If a child is in immediate danger or left alone, you should contact the police or call an ambulance on 999. There are numerous ways to report concerns about a child. Information on how to report both emergency and non-emergency abuse and neglect of a child is provided here. 

As a concerned member of the public, if you suspect or believe a child is suffering or is likely to suffer Significant Harm, including any form of mistreatment or abuse, you should report your concerns. Any referral will be treated in the strictest confidence 

Darlington local hub information

If you are a member of the public and have a concern regarding a child or a young person, please contact the Children's Initial Advice Team (Business Support), you can do this by telephone on  Telephone icon.jpg 01325 406222. 

If you are a professional and have a concern regarding a child or young person, please contact the Children's Initial Advice Team, you can do this by telephone on   Telephone icon.jpg 01325 406252. Additional information is available to support your discussion within the Child Protection Procedures. 
 
The Children's Initial Advice Team (CIAT) will ensure that children and young people will get the right service, first time, with no delay. 
 
The CIAT is open during the following hours: 
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm 
Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm 

If you need to get in touch out of office hours, contact the Out of Hours Emergency Duty team by telephone:  Telephone icon.jpg 01642 524552. 

Remember that if you suspect a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm then phone the police on  Telephone icon.jpg 999. 

Additional information is available below: 

Safeguarding Board

 website icon.png Darlington Safeguarding Board - Concerned about a child? (darlington-safeguarding-partnership.co.uk)