Reporting abuse
Children have a right to be kept safe from harm.
If you are:
- concerned that a child may be suffering physical, sexual or emotional abuse or is being neglected
- are a child or young person and you are being abused or neglected
- are a parent or carer and you feel you are harming your child or are close to doing so,
please contact us on one of the following numbers:
- Access to Information and Services Team (in office hours): 0845 050 7666
- Emergency Duty Team (outside office hours): 0800 833 408
- Banbury Assessment Team: 01295 756517
- Oxford Assessment Team: 01865 323048
- Abingdon Assessment Team: 01235 549297
What happens when child abuse is reported?
Our aim is to support families and help them care for their children. If a family is in difficulty it is much better for the children if we can work together to improve things.
We may work with the family and other agencies to improve the situation and make sure that the child is safe or we may put the family in touch with other services.
Where families are unable or unwilling to work with us and the children are at risk of harm we will together with schools, health services or whoever else is in touch with the family to ensure that the children are safe. Our aim will still be to help and support but we do work with the police Child Protection Unit if it is thought that a crime may have been committed.
Child Protection Register
If a child is thought to be at risk of significant harm, his or her name may be placed on the Child Protection Register for a time to ensure that all services in contact with the family work together to keep the child safe.
In a very small number of cases where the child cannot remain safely at home, a court order may be applied for. Where possible the child will be cared for by relatives or friends. How long he or she is away from home will depend on how quickly the situation improves so that it is safe once more for the child to live at home.
Children subject to Child Protection Plans
If a child is thought to be at serious risk of harm through abuse or neglect a Child Protection Conference will be held to which family members are usually invited. At this meeting a Child Protection Plan may be drawn up to help ensure the safety and welfare of the child(ren) and to help their family care safely for them.
In a very small number of cases children cannot remain safely at home. When this happens it is may be necessary for the local authority to obtain a Court Order. Whenever possible, if a child has to leave his or her own home, they will be cared for by relatives or friends. Every effort is made to return children to their own home as soon as possible.
Further information is available at the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board website.
The Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board
As we know from child abuse enquiries (for example, the recent Victoria Climbié Inquiry) it is essential to the safety of children that professionals and agencies work well together and, where necessary share information. The Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (OSCB) is responsible for ensuring that there is effective inter-agency working in the county.
The committee includes representatives from:
- Children, Young People and Families Directorate, Oxfordshire County Council
- The five district councils (shared representation)
- Thames Valley Police
- Thames Valley Probation Service
- Oxfordshire Youth Offending Service
- Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority
- Oxfordshire PCT
- Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust
- Oxfordshire Mental Health Care Trust
- Oxfordshire Learning Disability Trust
- Oxfordshire Ambulance Trust
- Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
- Connexions
- CAFCASS
- Huntercombe Young Offender Institution
- Local Medical Committee
- Local head Teachers’ Associations
You can find out more about the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board at www.oscb.org.uk.
This page was last updated on 05 February 2009
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