Child protection involves taking steps to safeguard children and young people at risk or suffering from physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
What should you do if you think a child is being abused
If you think you or the child is in immediate danger and needs urgent help, please call the police on 999.
Please contact us if you are:
- concerned that a child may be suffering physical, sexual or emotional abuse or is being neglected
- a child or young person and you are being abused or neglected
- a parent or carer and you feel you are harming your child or are close to doing so
Professionals - Reporting safeguarding concerns
Make a referral for a child or young person in need, or where there is reason to suspect they are likely to suffer significant harm because of abuse or neglect. Professionals can report a safeguarding concern on the Joint Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Safeguarding website (link below). There is also full supporting guidance, risk assessment tools and threshold information on the website.
Public - Reporting safeguarding concerns
Please let us know if you have safeguarding concerns, or are worried about a child.
If you are not a professional involved with the child or family, you do not have to give your name and your conversation will be treated confidentially.
Find out more about how the council delivers our safeguarding services, and how they work alongside District Early Help teams.
What is child abuse?
A child may experience more than one type of abuse or neglect.
Cambridgeshire Local Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB) has a range of information for parents and for practitioners as well as more information about MASH and Early Help Hub.
Professional requests for information
This form is to be used by professionals requesting information from Cambridgeshire Children’s Services. Please ensure all fields are completed and return the completed form to the email address on the form.
Standard requests will be processed within 10 working days. If you are making enquiries under Section 47 of the Children’s Act, please state so in the subject line of your email when returning the form and mark your email as high importance.
We act on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council only. If you are unsure which county your request falls under, you can check using the Postcode Checker
Request for information form
Further information
- Find out more about safeguarding people who may be susceptible to radicalisation on the ACT Early website
- You can also get advice and help from NSPCC for all concerns around abuse and neglect, and from Stop It Now! for concerns around sexual abuse
- Children and young people can also contact Childline for support
- Worried about an adult or older person?
- Supporting a child who has witnessed domestic abuse