Report a Concern

Emergency

If a child or young person is in immediate danger, please call 999.

Reporting a Concern

If you are worried that a child or young people in Sefton who may be suffering significant harm please call us on 0345 140 0845

Our hours are:

Monday to Thursday – 9am to 5.30pm

Fridays – 9am to 5pm

Out of Hours

If the issue cannot wait until the next working day, please contact our Emergency Duty Team outside of the above hours, including weekends and bank holidays, on 0151 934 3555

What is a Concern?

You may want to report a concern if you:

Are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child

Suspect neglect or abuse

Would like to report an incident

Are a child or young people who needs support

We appreciate that making a referral to MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) may be difficult for you. Please be reassured that your concerns will be recorded and any response carefully considered.

Keeping children and young people safe is everyone's responsibility - families, carers, the public and professional staff in Children's Services and partner agencies.

The council has a legal duty to look into a child’s circumstances when somebody suspects abuse or neglect is occurring.

You should always report your concerns, even if the person you suspect is abusing or neglecting a child is your partner, or a member of your own family or someone you know well.

You can remain anonymous if you wish to.

Other Options

You can also discuss your concerns with someone who works with children and families, e.g. health visitor, school nurse, social worker or teacher.

You can also contact one of the following third party agencies:

NSPCC

If you're worried about a child, even if you're unsure, contact our professional counsellors for help, advice and support.

Email: help@nspcc.org.uk

Call: 0808 800 5000

Childline

Childline offers free, confidential advice and support whatever your worry, whenever you need help.

Call: 0800 1111

Information for Professionals 


This information is for professionals only.

If you are unsure whether to make a referral, please discuss your concerns with the designated child protection officer/ safeguarding lead within your organisation.

Prior to making a referral through to Children’s Services, if you would like to have a consultation with a Social Worker please call Sefton’s MASH Team on either 0151 934 4013/ 4481.

Please note a Child Referral Form should be completed in all cases unless you deem the child to be at risk of immediate significant harm to which MASH Contact Officers will receive information via the telephone in the first instance but following this a Child Referral Form must be completed. 

MASH Referral Form (word 363KB)
Information For Professionals (word 189KB)
MASH Information sharing working agreement 2020 (word 126KB)

Once you have completed the referral form please email it to: 
socialcare.customeraccessteam@sefton.gov.uk

You can view the 'Information for Professionals Working in Partnership to Safeguard Children in Sefton' document.

If you have any technical issues relating to the online referral form and your IT support is provided by Agilisys, please contact the Helpdesk to relay your issues on 0151 934 4999. If your IT is not provided by Agilisys, please contact your own internal IT provider. 

For sharing information on children and families within the Sefton Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) view the MASH information sharing working agreement.

For any out of hours advice/ emergencies (Mon – Thurs from 5.30pm, Fri from 5pm, weekends and bank holidays) please contact Sefton’s Emergency Duty Team on 0151 934 3555.

If you think a child is in immediate danger please call the Police.

Please call the Sefton Contact Centre for all general enquiries on 0345 140 0845.

Child Exploitation

For all referrals specially relating to Child Exploitation please complete the Multi Agency Screening Tool. Here is a helpful guide  on  when to complete a screening. This is in addition to the child referral form and securely email to: socialcare.customeraccessteam@sefton.gov.uk

Placement of Cared for Children 

If a cared for child or young person is moving into a placement in Sefton, or changing placements within the borough, please complete the placement notification form 


Last Updated on Wednesday, June 21, 2023

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