Professionals

Getting it right first time: top tips for professionals
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

All practitioners whose work brings them into contact with children and families should:

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In practice, here are the things you can do to protect those people who are at risk:

Be alert to the signs of abuse
The following list of signs of behaviour for adult victims is not exhaustive and should not be used as a definitive list, but should be used as guidance:

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Younger children who experience and witness domestic abuse may:

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Older children/young people who experience and witness domestic abuse react differently:

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Take action. You must act if someone discloses abuse to you or you suspect abuse. Based on what you have seen and heard, make a professional judgment about what you should do next.
If you identify or recognise the above, be professionally supportive, inquisitive and take the following action:

If yes:

If no:

If there is immediate risk of danger

If the situation is urgent – for example there are injuries or a risk of immediate harm, dial 999 and ask for the police.  Additionally, once you have dialled 999, if children are at risk, you should call your local authority children’s services or follow your organisation’s child protection policy.

If the situation is serious and the victim is scared and frightened, but there is no immediate risk of danger
You should seek advice from your service manager or your service’s domestic abuse champion and follow your organisation’s safeguarding protocols.

If the victim is not in immediate danger, but is scared or frightened, or unhappy in their relationship
Ask them how you can help.  Make sure the victim knows about sources of help and support, such as those listed below, as well as any local services, and encourage them to get in contact.

Signposting for help and support 
For details of the help and support agencies in Lancashire click here. If you believe there is an immediate risk of harm to someone, or it is an emergency, you should always dial 999.

If you are unsure what to do
If you are unsure about what to do, speak to a local domestic violence service, the police or children’s services for advice. They can suggest the right way forward and will speak initially on an anonymous basis.

Referrals
You can also make references via the usual routes – the MASH and Children’s Social Care. Alternatively, you signpost people to their local police safeguarding unit by calling 101 and asking for their local police safeguarding Units.

Reporting domestic abuse
If you want to report a crime, but you are not in immediate danger, you can call the police on 101 or report online here: Home – Lancashire Constabulary – Report Online

If you need the police in an emergency, please do not be afraid to dial 999 – they will help you and protect you from danger

Local authority colleagues
If you work for a local authority, Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board has created a domestic abuse guide to support practitioners and managers. Click here to view the document.

Remember: