The Children Acts 1989 and 2004 place a duty on Children and Young People's departments to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. We have a duty to investigate any allegations that a child might be being neglected or abused, and if necessary, take appropriate action to protect the child.

The Children and Young People's Department (CYPD) works together with other agencies, such as police and health services, to safeguard the welfare of children, and is a member of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. 

If you have concerns about the well being of a child, please don't keep them to yourself, please contact CYPD, between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday on: 

Children and Young People's Department
Derby City Council

Ashtree House
218 Osmaston Road
Derby
DE23 8JX
Tel: 01332 641172
Minicom: 01332 716709
Fax 01332 641097

In a social care emergency, out of normal office hours, please call:

Derby City Care Line
PO Box 5998 Derby
Tel 01332 711250
Minicom 01332 711255
SMS 07771 814085
Fax 01332 711254

Signs of Abuse

Positive ways of protecting children

Local Safeguarding Children Board

What to do if you are worried

Further information

Signs of Abuse

The following may help you decide whether a child's welfare is at risk of abuse, harm or neglect.

Signs which may suggest physical abuse:

• Any bruising to a baby - pre-walking stage
• Multiple bruising to different parts of the body
• Bruising of different colours indicating repeated injuries
• Fingertip bruising to the chest, back, arms or legs
• Burns of any shape or size
• An injury for which there is no adequate explanation

Signs of possible sexual abuse:

• Something a child has told you
• Something a child has told someone else
• A child who shows worrying sexualised behaviour in their play or with other children
• A child who seems to have inappropriate sexual knowledge for their age
• A child who may be visiting or being looked after by a known or suspected sexual offender.

Signs which suggest emotional harm:

The following signs may be present in children whose parents are over-critical and emotionally distant, or who are unable to meet their child's emotional needs:

• Children whose behaviour is excessive. For example, excessive bedwetting, overeating, rocking, headbanging.
• Children who self harm. For example, they may cut or scratch themselves or overdose.
• Children who attempt suicide
• Children who persistently run away from home
• Children who show high levels of anxiety, unhappiness or withdrawal
• Children who usually seek out or avoid affection.

Signs which may suggest neglect:

• Squalid, unhygienic or dangerous home conditions
• Parents who fail to attend to their children's health or development needs
• Children who appear persistently undersized or underweight
• Children who continually appear tired or lacking in energy
• Children who suffer frequent injuries due to lack of supervision.

Positive ways of protecting children

What do children need?

• To feel safe and secure
• Health and happiness
• Appropriate affection
• Lots of smiles
• Praise and encouragement
• To be able to talk to someone
• To be listened to
• New experiences
• Respect for their feelings
• Rewards and treats

Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB)

Everyone is responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

The Children Act 2004 requires all children's services authorities to form an LSCB that: 

• leads collaboration across the agencies
• develops and sets policies and procedures
• monitors and audits their implementation
• provide training
• promotes awareness in the wider community.

The LSCB meets regularly throughout the year, and is made up of representatives from:

• CYPD
• Health Services
• Probation Services
• Police
• NSPCC
• Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
• the voluntary sector.

What is the LSCB responsible for?

• Agreeing local policies and procedures to guide inter-agency child protection work.
• Improving local ways of working to achieve better outcomes for children.
• Undertaking reviews of cases where there is a concern about the effectiveness of services.
• Providing training and development programmes to help improve the quality of working together.
• Raising awareness of the need to safeguard children in the wider community.
• To undertake work as outlined in the Business Plan.

How do you find out more about the LSCB?

If you would like to find out more about the LSCB, how it works, or to make a comment, please contact Mark Sobey, LSCB Policy Officer, telephone 01332 717811, or email mark.sobey@derby.gov.uk.

What to do if you are worried

If you are unsure that a child may be suffering but are worried, or if you are concerned that a child has suffered harm, neglect or abuse, please contact:

Derby City Council, Children & Young Peoples Department
Ashtree House, 218 Osmaston Road
Derby
DE23 8JX

Telephone: 01332 641172. In an emergency outside normal office hours, please contact our Emergency Services (Derby Careline) on 01332 711250 or telephone the police.

Further Information

Department for Children, Schools and Families Website