If staff have concerns about a child’s welfare, they should act on them immediately by following their school or setting’s child protection policy and speaking to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

If a child is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services using 999.

Designated Safeguarding Leads should access the Kent Support Level Guidance from the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-agency Partnership (KSCMP) to assess the levels of need and intervention required.

If you assess that a child/family requires intensive or specialist support, you will need to make a referral through the ‘Front Door’. For more information and to access the Online Portal see the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-agency Partnership website.

If you assess that a family’s needs sit below level 3 and 4, but you would have previously considered completing an Early Help Notification, you may still wish to contact your local Early Help Team for advice about the most appropriate type of support available within the community at Support Levels 1 and 2:

• Early Help and Preventative Services contacts

All concerns, discussions, decisions and justifications should be recorded in writing.

“An allegation may relate to a person who works with children who has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
• possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children.”

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018

"This guidance should be followed where it is alleged that anyone working in the school or college that provides education for children under 18 years of age, including supply teachers and volunteers has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child;
• possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child;
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she may pose a risk of harm to children; or
• behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children.

Part Four, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020 

See the safeguarding procedures for managing allegations against staff in schools and education settings guidance document for more information.

If an allegation is made against a member of staff in an education setting, it should be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) as soon as possible.

The LADO’s role is to:

• Offer advice and support on the most appropriate course of action to ensure the safety of children and the member of staff
• Conduct a risk assessment and consider whether the member of staff should be suspended from contact with children during an investigation
• Liaise with police and social care regarding any investigations
• Decide whether further disciplinary action is appropriate (if there is no further police action)
• Make a referral to DBS for consideration on the barred list.

For more information, including the LADO contact details and referral form, see:

• Managing staff allegations

Further advice and links:

• ACAS Discipline and grievances at work
• ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures

If you are a Designated Safeguarding Lead in a Kent school or setting and would like further support or guidance on responding to a safeguarding concern, contact your Area Education Safeguarding Advisor.