What to do if you are concerned about a child

Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility. Child protection means protecting children from physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect. It also means helping children to grow up into confident, healthy and happy adults.

If you are concerned about the safety and welfare of a child in Leicester city, then please contact Leicester City Council or the Police, on the following telephone numbers.

Children and Young People's Service

Telephone: 0116 454 1004 (open 24/7).

Post: Duty and Advice Service, Halford House, 91 Charles Street, Leicester.  LE1 1HL

Members of the public could visit Customer Services at 91 Granby Street, Leicester  LE1 6FB where a telephone will be available to contact the Duty and Advice Service, Children's Social Care.

A social worker will talk to you about your concerns and will advice of any action required.  The service is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, all year.  

The service is also the first point of contact for all new referrals to children's services and will deal with anything that relates to city children.

How to make a referral 

In the first instance contact 0116 454 1004 to discuss your concerns.  You will be advised at this point if you need to complete a Multi Agency Referral Form (MARF).

You may be asked for more information if there is insufficient to make an assessment.  If this is the case it will be because you already have a relationship with the child, or deemed to be best placed to get the information.

If a referral is made on behalf of a parent or carer, permission to share their information is required unless doing so would place the child at risk of harm.

The thresholds for access to services for children and families in Leicester are available here. The threshold documents will support you in making the referral. 

If you are a professional working with a child and their family, you will be required to provide details of the assessment work you have already undertaken. 

For information checks in relation to children and families

For information checks in relation to children/families (e.g. from the Home Office or Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service) contact Children and Young People’s Service on: 0116 454 1004 (phone) or CASP-Team@leicester.gov.uk (e-mail)

Further Support

If you are unable to complete the MARF online, please request a copy of the MARF in an alternative format by contacting the Early Help Queries team on 0116 454 1004 or email CASP-Team@leicester.gov.uk.  Please note, alternative formats of the MARF will need to be sent securely to CASP-Team@leicester.gov.uk.

If you are concerned about the safety and welfare of a child in Leicestershire or Rutland, please visit the Leicestershire and Rutland website for further information.

Concerns about adults who work with children

If you are concerned that an adult who works or volunteers with children has harmed a child, please call the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) on 0116 454 2440.

Alternatively, please email Lado-allegations-referrals@leicester.gov.uk.

For more information on the LADO, visit our LADO pages.

Police

Telephone:101. In an emergency always call 999.