Reporting Child Abuse

We all have a role to play in protecting children and young people from child abuse and neglect, but research shows that currently a third of people who suspect child abuse don’t act on their suspicions.

We actively encourage the public to report their concerns in order to get help to children more quickly.

Report a concern about a child

If you think a child or young person is at risk of abuse or is being abused or neglected then you can report a concern to Bath & North East Somerset Council's dedicated children's social work team.

You may not have all the answers, but you will be asked for:

• Details about the child, such as name, address and date of birth (if known). Try to give as much detail as you can, but don't worry if you don't know everything.
• The reason why you are calling.

What happens after you've made a report

Once you have made a report there is a four step process that will be followed.

• Step 1 - Listening. When you call the social care team your call will be listened to and assessed.
• Step 2 - Information gathering. Information is usually gathered from many sources, and your report will help form one part of a bigger picture
• Step 3 - Assessing. If concerns are raised about a child, a social worker will make an assessment and decide what support to provide.
• Step 4 - Deciding. It may be that the concern is unfounded and that no further action is required although all concerns are taken seriously.