Keeping children safe

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

If you think a child is being abused or neglected, please contact the council’s Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) during office hours:

• phone 023 9268 8793
• email mash@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
• At all other times, phone the out-of-hours service on 0300 555 1373

Leave your name and number and we will call you back as quickly as possible.

Hampshire County Council provides alternative useful phone numbers for child protection concerns.

We share information and practices with other organisations, such as health, police and children’s services, to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

• Much more information is available at Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Board
• For information on how to choose a safe club or activity for your child outside of school, see our tips page

If you are unsure whether a child is suffering and are worried that the child has suffered harm, neglect or abuse, the information below may help you decide whether the child is at risk:

Signs of 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 sexual abuse

• something a child has told you or 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 of emotional abuse

These signs may be present in children whose parents are over-critical, emotionally distant, or unable to meet their child’s emotional needs:

• excessive behaviour, such as excessive bedwetting, overeating, rocking, headbanging
• self-harming, for example, cutting or scratching themselves or an overdose
• attempt at suicide
• persistently running away from home
• high levels of anxiety, unhappiness or withdrawal
• children who usually seek out or avoid affection

Signs of 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

We support early years and childcare providers in their policy and practice for safeguarding and child protection. The Department for Education defines safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as:

• protecting children from maltreatment
• preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• ensuring children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care

If you think a child is being abused or neglected, please contact the council’s Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) during office hours:

• phone 0845 671 0271
• email MASH@secure.portsmouthcc.gov.uk
• At all other times, phone the out-of-hours service on 0300 555 1373

The links below will help ensure safeguarding children policies and procedures are robust and cover all relevant areas – for further information about your safeguarding policy and practice, contact your linked Childcare Development Officer.

• Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Board (PCSB) professionals and volunteers page
• Child abuse concerns: guide for practitioners
• Disclosure and Barring Service
• Working together online

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), also known as the designated officer, is a role set out in the government guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018).

Portsmouth’s LADO is Hayley Cowmeadow, who can be contacted by:

• phone on 023 9288 2500
• email LADO@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

The LADO should be alerted to all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:

• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she may pose a risk of harm to children.
• possibly committed a criminal offence against children, or related to a child
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates s/he is unsuitable to work with children

The LADO role applies to paid, unpaid, volunteers, casual, agency or anyone self employed and they capture concerns, allegations or offences emanating from outside of work. More information is available on the PCSB website.

For details of how the council uses information about allegations against Persons in Positions of Trust, please visit our Data Protection Privacy Notice page.