Keeping children safe

All children have the right to live in a safe and secure environment, and be free from fear of cruelty and abuse.

Children are usually best brought up in the care of their parents and Children’s Services will work in partnership with them to ensure this happens. However in some situations this may not be possible and the Council then have to intervene to protect and safeguard the welfare of the child. The Council might apply to a court to begin the process of care proceedings ( 28kb), which would grant the power to take decisions in the best interests of the child.

This might be because someone has called the police if they are worried that a child is being hurt or because someone like a teacher has become aware that a child may be being hurt. On occasions we may apply for an Interim Care Order or, in an emergency, an Emergency Protection Order to protect children.

If you are worried about a child, please let us know so that we can help.

You can telephone one of the following numbers:  

Children's Services:  
(daytime) 566 1500
(evening) 528 9110

Northumbria Police Child Protection Unit:  
(weekdays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) 454 7555 ext: 66264/5/6 

NSPCC  
Helpline: 0800 800 5000
Textphone: 0800 056 0566

The Sunderland Safeguarding Children's Board (SSCB) brings together representatives of the main agencies and professionals responsible for helping to protect children from abuse and neglect.

More information about SSCB can be found at the Childrens Trust website

The documents above are in PDF () format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Useful internet links:

Keeping your child safe from abuse and bullying - information on the Directgov website.

Chatdanger - a site for children and young people all about the potential dangers on interactive services online like chat, IM, online games, email and on mobiles

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