Child protection

Protecting children from harm

Keeping children safe is everyone's responsibility. We work with other agencies to make sure children are protected and safe from harm.

Hackney Education employees must:

• take responsibility for safeguarding children and young people;
• carry out carry out their responsibilities in such a way as to minimise risk of harm to children or young people; and
• promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children Act 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Are you worried about the safety or wellbeing of a Hackney child or young person?

If you feel a child is at immediate risk of harm, it is important to consider whether you need to call the Police on 999 to report your concerns, so that they can take immediate action to keep a child safe where needed. 

Parents/carers 

To discuss your worries with a social worker, please phone Hackney's Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH):

• 020 8356 5500 - this telephone line is open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday only (excluding bank holidays)
• Outside of office hours, if your concerns are urgent, you can call our Emergency Duty Team on 020 8356 2710

Professionals

If a case is already allocated within Hackney Children and Families Services, please contact the child’s allocated Unit to discuss your concerns. 

Where a child is not open to Hackney Children and Families Services, and you feel your concern is urgent, please call MASH on 020 8356 5500. This phone line is open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Outside of these hours, please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 020 8356 2710.

In all other circumstances, please complete a MASH referral form. Information submitted via form will only be reviewed during office hours.

Please note, it is the expectation that you will have always spoken to the family before making a referral to MASH, unless you feel that doing this will place a child at immediate risk of harm.

All decisions in MASH about the most appropriate next steps for a child and family are made in line with the Hackney Child Wellbeing Framework.

Where you are unsure about what support a child and family needs, or whether you should make a referral to MASH, please call MASH and ask for a consultation with a member of the team.

City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Board

City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Board is responsible for agreeing how organisations promote children and young people's well-being. The board has signed up to the London Child Protection Procedures which set out how professionals must work together to protect and promote the well-being of children.

Out of School Settings (OOSS) project

Many young people participate in some form of organised activity outside of school. The Out Of School Settings (OOSS) project aims to help parents and carers make sure that their children are happy, safe and protected in after school and extra-curricular activities. It also highlights what to do if you have any concerns about a setting.

• Find out more about the out of school settings project

Hackney helpline to tackle child exploitation

In 2015, Hackney Children and Young People’s Services and the NSPCC, in conjunction with the City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Board (CHSCB) and its partners, launched a campaign appealing to adults in particular to share any concerns they have about the exploitation of Hackney children and young people, specifically around:

• gang involvement or activity;
• sexual exploitation or abuse; and
• radicalisation.

Exploitation of our children and young is a significant risk to their safety and wellbeing, yet indicators suggest it is under-reported in all of the above areas. Working in partnership with both the CHSCB and NSPCC seeks to encourage the public to share information and concerns while providing an alternative route to support than more conventional channels. 

• For further clarity, you can visit the CHSCB website or go to the NSPCC webpage