Child Protection

Social Services departments have a legal duty to protect children and young people under Section 78 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.

This means we must investigate all allegations of abuse or concerns of neglect which are reported to us. 

If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, or a child tells you that they are being abused, please contact 01495 762200 (or 0800 328 4432 for out of office emergencies) and tell them it is a Child Protection referral. If the child is at immediate risk of harm, telephone the police. 

Abuse can take many forms:

• Neglect
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse

Domestic abuse also has a detrimental effect on a child’s well-being. 

If you are a child or young person who is being abused, don’t suffer in silence. Tell someone. 

When a concern is raised, we will make enquiries, usually starting by visiting the child and the family. This is usually done with the police. 

If there are concerns that a visit to the family home would put the child at more risk of harm, then we will first make enquiries of other professionals who might know the child and their family, e.g. the school, their health visitor or school nurse, their GP, a youth worker. 

If you have any concerns about the safety of a child, please do not keep them to yourself.