Tel: 023 9282 2251
Child Protection
Last updated: 17 February 2011 11:24 UKThis information provides simple guidance about children who may need protection from harm. Contact Children's Social Care if you are worried about any child's welfare.
Contact Telephone Numbers
023 9283 9111 - Merefield House (Information & Assessment Team)0845 600 4555 - Emergency out-of-hours
0845 045 45 45 - Hampshire Constabulary
0808 800 5000 - NSPCC
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 may 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
Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Board (PSCB)
Everyone is responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Sharing information and practice across agencies helps protect children. The Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Board is the designated multi-agency group with the responsibility to ensure all agencies work together effectively to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the area.
The PSCB meets regularly throughout the year, and is made up of representatives from:
- Children's Social Care
- Portmouth City Council and Education Services
- Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
- Solent Healthcare
- Hampshire Police
- Children & Young Persons Alliance (Voluntary Sector)
- Hampshire Probation
- Wessex Youth Offending Team
- NHS Portsmouth
- South Central NHS
- South Central Ambulance Service
- UK Border Agency
- Naval, Personal & Family Service
- Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service
- Portsmouth Anglican Diocese
What is the PSCB 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.
- Undertaking work as outlined in the Business Plan
How do you find out more about the PSCB?
Other documents that give more detail on the work of the PSCB are :
- Annual Report and Business Plan 2009/2010
- The Constitution of the Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Board
- The Portsmouth Compact
If you would like to discuss the PSCB, find out how it works, or to make a comment, please contact the PSCB Business Manager on 023 9284 1540.
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 read the information on www.4LSCB.org.uk and use the contact details at the top of the page.
In an emergency outside normal office hours, please contact our Emergency Services or the Police on the numbers given at the top of the page.
