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Child Safeguarding

 

Introduction

This page provides information to support (but not replace) the safeguarding policy within your practice. People who work in healthcare have a duty to protect children from harm and promote wellbeing.

 

Urgent Support

If you or someone you know is being hurt or is in immediate danger, dial 999.

  • If the person is unable to speak, they can use ‘The Silent Solution’– this is the highest priority response. Advise patient to wait for the operator to speak and press 55 to alert the operator that help is needed.
  • In non-emergencies, phone 101 and ask for the Public Protection Unit.

 

Contact MARU for ALL child Safeguarding Referrals

If the child lives in Cornwall If the child lives in the Isles of Scilly
Tel: 0300 123 1116 (MARU) Tel: 0300 1234 105 (option 5)
Out of Hours: 01208 251 300 Out of Hours: 01720 422 699
Online referral form: Cornwall Child Referral Online referral form:  Isles of Scilly Child Referral


Please refer to the Threshold Tool before making a referral 

 

Supporting information

  • Obtain consent – unless there is a legal exception and significant safeguarding concerns.
  • Safe contact information.
  • Parental biopsychosocial issues impacting on child.
  • Photographs, if appropriate i.e. non-mobile bruising.

 

Domestic Abuse Support

 

Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Support

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Support: Home - Devon & Cornwall SARC - NHS

 

Concerns About a Professional or Volunteer

This relates to concerns that a professional or volunteer has

  • Behaved in a way that has harmed or may harm an adult or child
  • Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to an adult or child
  • Behaved in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to adults with care and support needs
  • Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children or adults with care needs.

 

If you have concerns about any of the above, you must contact the following to make a referral:

For concerns involving a child:

  1. Contact MARU: 0300 123 1116 or 0300 1234 105 (option 5) for IOS. 
  2. Contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.  Online referral form: Professional Allegation Referral Guidance - Cornwall Council or phone 01872 326 536.

 

Clinical Advice & Professional Support

  • For urgent paediatric advice: Contact the duty paediatrician for child protection via the acute hospital switchboard or Paediatric consultant on-call: 01925 635911 (out of hours)
  • For safeguarding leads professional guidance: Email ciosicb.scatconcern@nhs.net safeguarding leads can contact us for support and supervision with complex cases.
  • Named/designated nurse or doctor for safeguarding children (Monday to Friday 9-5pm):

 

Additional Safeguarding Issues

Prevent (Radicalisation)

Helpline: 0800 011 3764

  1. Contact MARU: 0300 123 1116 or 0300 1234 105 (option 5) for IOS.
  2. Report to Prevent  Prevent and radicalisation  - Safer Cornwall
  3. Report to Police (01392 225130)
  

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Statutory duty to report to police.

  1. Contact MARU: 0300 123 1116 or 0300 1234 105 (option 5) for IOS.
  2. Report to Police (01392 225130)

How to report FGM | Devon & Cornwall Police

  

 

Supporting Information

For professionals:

 

For patients:

 

Page Review Information

Review date

06 March 2026

Next review date

06 March 2027

GP speciality lead

Dr Laura Vines, Dr Melanie Schick

Contributors

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB Safeguarding Team