Help identify potential safeguarding concerns
Safeguarding concerns can arise from signs in a child’s appearance, behaviour, disclosures, or interactions, as well as concerning staff conduct.
There are many different ways you might come across safeguarding concerns. For example, you might:
- see something worrying such as a mark, injury or bruise on a baby or young child
- notice unexplained injuries, and perhaps see a pattern when they happen
- notice changes in a child’s behaviour that cause you concern
- be worried about a baby’s care, behaviour or health
- be concerned about the behaviour of a child towards another child
- be told something about a child or family that worries you
- be told something directly by a child – this is sometimes called direct disclosure
Even if a concern seems minor, small details can sometimes add to a bigger overall picture.
Children’s behaviour to look out for
Direct disclosures are less common because children face barriers that may mean they are unable to speak directly about harm and abuse, such as not knowing the ‘right’ words to use, being afraid of what might happen if someone finds out or thinking they won’t be taken seriously. This means that you need to be alert, and to make sure you listen to not only the words that children say, but also other signs, such as:
- how they behave and the feelings they show, such as seeming anxious
- how they respond to and play with other children, such as becoming withdrawn
- how they respond to adults, including their parents and carers
- how they play, including role play and drawings
- unexplained changes in behaviour, mood, or health
- knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their age
Concerning staff behaviours to look out for
Alongside the strong safeguarding processes to make sure only suitable people are recruited to work with children, you are a vital part of noticing any potential safeguarding concerns among members of staff. There are different staff behaviours that could indicate a safeguarding concern.
This can include:
- being overly friendly with children
- frequently spending time alone with a child without due cause
- appearing to have ‘favourites’ where they behave differently towards those children, such as giving them special attention or often sitting the child on their lap
- blurring professional boundaries by making particular efforts to befriend a child’s parents or family, or visit a child at home
- offering to transport children to and from the setting when this is outside the usual approach
- repeatedly breaching the staff code of conduct or behave in a way that makes others feel uncomfortable
- having inappropriate physical contact with a child
- using inappropriate sexualised language in the workplace
- making derogatory comments about a baby, child or their family
- using the setting’s electronic devices inappropriately, for example using them for personal internet browsing
- using personal electronic devices inappropriately/against setting policy
- challenging or ignoring expectations around smoking or vaping on site
- using rude or aggressive language to other colleagues
Your role is not to decide if harm or abuse is happening; that is the role of other professionals, such as social workers or the police.
However, it is your responsibility to act if you have concerns that abuse or harm may be happening or are worried about something. If in doubt – speak out.