Child Protection
Barking and Dagenham
What is child protection?
Child protection means protecting children from abuse. The Children Act 1989 places a duty on local authorities to make inquiries in cases where there is reason to believe that a child living in the local authority area is suffering, or at risk of suffering significant harm.
We define significant harm as ill-treatment, harming health, and harming development (physical, intellectual, emotional, social and behavioural).
Services available
If we believe a child is suffering significant harm, we will hold an inquiry under section 47 of the Children Act 1989. At the same time, we will begin a core assessment under the framework for Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (2000). We will carry out the inquiry and assessment using the London Child Protection Procedures.
The findings may lead to the following outcomes:
- We take no further action
- We at Children's Services or another provider will provide a service
- An inter-agency child protection plan is needed. This is where partner agencies work together to provide a service after a child's name is placed on our child protection register
What should I do if I think that a child is being abused?
If you are unsure that a child may be suffering but are worried, or if you are concerned that a child has suffered harm, neglect or abuse, please use the contact details at the top of the page.
In an emergency outside normal office hours, please contact our Emergency Out of Hours Services or the police.
Information on what happens when Children's Services and the Police Child Protection Team are involved with your family can be found on Information for Parents and Carers.
Multi-Agency Referral Form - PDF 
57K
Multi-Agency Referral Form - Word 
405K
This form is to be used only for agencies referring a child/children to Children's Services for assessment as a child in need, including in need of protection. Any members of the public should contact the Child Protection Team at the address shown.
