A child is someone who is under 18. Safeguarding aims to:

• Protect children from maltreatment
• Prevent impairment of children’s health or development
• Ensure that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• Take action to enable all children to have the best life chances

Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This is when actions are taken to protect specific children who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm.

Child abuse is a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm.

Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or by others (such as through the internet). They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children.

The Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships (LSCP) are multi-agency forums which incorporate statutory members including the local authority, NHS, police, and probation. The chair of each LSCP is independent and NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has representation from the Executive Leads and Designated Professionals.

A vulnerable child is anyone under the age of 18 including the unborn baby who may suffer from abuse.

Some children are more vulnerable than others. Whilst the list is not exhaustive, risk factors include:

• ‘Looked after’ children those already in the care system (and care leavers)
• Children under the age of 5
• Children with disabilities
• Homeless children
• Teenage mothers
• Children in custodial settings
• Children who live with parental drug and alcohol abuse or domestic abuse

Child exploitation is a form of abuse.

Exploitation occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child (under the age of 18 years):
(a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants and/or
(b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator.

The victim may be exploited for criminal purposes which is referred to as Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) or for sexual purposes, which is referred to as Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).  It can include forced labour, organ harvesting, domestic servitude, and forced marriage. Children can be exploited by other children and in different ways, such as face to face, via their mobile phone or through the internet.

To make a formal referral or to ask for advice contact:

Telford and Wrekin

Family Connect:

Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm - 01952 385385
Out of hours - 01952 676500

Shropshire

Initial Contact Team - 0345 678 9021
Out of hours - 0345 678 9040

For further guidance and access to West Mercia inter agency child protection procedures click the links below:

If you wish to access the LSCB multi-agency procedures, please click here.

For further guidance and access to the West Mercia Inter Agency Child Protection Procedures, follow the links below:

• Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Children Board
• Shropshire Safeguarding Children Board