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What to do if…
you are contacted by a child protection or safeguarding agency asking to speak with you urgently

Short answer

Slow things down: verify who is contacting you, then agree a near-term time to speak when you’re calm, private, and able to take notes.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t assume it’s genuine until you verify the caller and organisation using an independently found number.
  • Don’t ignore it or delay unnecessarily once you’ve verified it — prompt, calm engagement matters.
  • Don’t have the conversation where children can overhear, and don’t coach children on what to say.
  • Don’t delete messages, call logs, or texts connected to the contact.
  • Don’t post about it on social media or message lots of people about allegations or who you think reported you.
  • Don’t agree on the spot to things you don’t understand (including signing forms) without time to read and get advice.

What to do now

  1. Get details, then pause the call. Ask for: their full name, role, team/service name, organisation (council Children’s Services / social work / safeguarding team, or an HSC Trust in Northern Ireland), a direct number, and any reference/case number. Say: “I’m going to verify the office number and call back.”
  2. Verify independently before you share more.
    • Use an official website to find the main switchboard number for the council/Children’s Services (or your local HSC Trust in Northern Ireland).
    • Call the main number and ask to be put through to the person/team you were given, using the reference number if you have one.
    • If it’s out of hours, ask for the out-of-hours social work / emergency duty service (names vary) and verify the person is on duty.
  3. Ask what “urgent” means today. Once verified, ask for the minimum clarity you need:
    • Which child(ren) is this about?
    • What is the immediate safety concern you need to address today?
    • What are you asking for right now (phone call, home visit, seeing the child at school/nursery, meeting at an office)?
    • In England and Wales, you can also ask whether they’re treating it as support/assessment (often discussed under “child in need”) or child protection enquiries (often discussed under section 47). (In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the terms and processes differ — the worker should still be able to tell you what process they’re using and what happens next.)
  4. Set a clear time and conditions for the conversation. If you’re panicked or not in a private place: “I can speak at [time later today / tomorrow morning]. I need privacy and to take notes.” Ask what they can confirm in writing and how they’ll follow up (email/letter/text).
  5. Create a simple written record. Note date/time, who contacted you, the number used, exact phrases (“urgent”, “risk”, “significant harm”), what they requested, and what you agreed. Keep any voicemails/texts.
  6. Make the home environment calm and ordinary. Keep routines (meals, school, bedtime). Avoid adult discussions about allegations within earshot of children.
  7. Get specialist advice early if you can. If you’re a parent/carer, consider speaking to a family law solicitor or a specialist family support organisation that deals with child protection processes. If you already have a solicitor, you can tell the worker you want key communications copied to them.
  8. If they want to see the child quickly (home or school). Ask what the specific concern is and what they’re proposing (who will attend, what they want to do, how long it will take). You can ask to speak to a supervisor/manager if you feel pressured. They may still need to see the child promptly, but you can still ask for clarity, timing, and to have another trusted adult present.

What can wait

  • You don’t need to write a long statement immediately.
  • You don’t need to guess who made a referral or confront anyone about it.
  • You don’t need to agree today to any plan, written agreement, or “voluntary” arrangement you haven’t read and understood.
  • You don’t need to gather every document right now — first get verified contact and a clear next step/time.

Important reassurance

An urgent safeguarding contact does not automatically mean a child will be removed. Many contacts are about checking safety, understanding concerns, and deciding what support or next steps are needed. Feeling scared, angry, or confused is a normal reaction — slowing down and verifying details helps you avoid panic mistakes.

Scope note

This is first steps for the first hours after the initial contact. Child welfare processes can move quickly and can involve meetings, plans, or legal steps. Later decisions may need specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Child protection systems and terminology vary across the UK nations and by local area. If you’re unsure what applies, prioritise verifying who contacted you, keeping children safe and calm, documenting what happens, and getting local specialist advice.

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