What to do if an allegation is made against one of your staff or volunteers

In the event that your organisation receives an allegation of abuse against an adult working for your organisation, either in a paid or unpaid capacity, you have a responsibility to report this to the Local Authority Designated Officer.

How do I report an allegation?

You should complete a simple form called Form SGE1. This is an information form to be used in all cases where an allegation of abuse is made against a paid employee or volunteer working with children or young people on behalf of your organisation/service.

It should be used in respect of all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child
• possibly committed a criminal offence against, or related to, a child; or
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates s/he is unsuitable to work with children

(Appendix 5 –Procedures for managing allegations against people who work with children; Page 239: ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children – A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children’)

The form can be downloaded from Do It Online on the right of this page. The completed form should be sent to the Child Safeguarding Unit.

Process for Reporting Allegations

At the point your organisation contacts Children’s Services to report an allegation you will be dealing with Anthony Goble - Safeguarding Officer (Education) who acts as the Council’s Local Authority Designated Officer. He is responsible for managing and overseeing all case where allegations relate to adults who work with children and young people.  

When the Safeguarding Unit receives a Form SGE1 the following process is followed:

1. Details on Form SGE1 are logged onto a confidential allegations database;
2. Form SGE1 is faxed through to the Police Child Protection Unit;
3. The Local Authority Designated Officer liaises with the Duty In-take team (Children’s Services) to determine whether the significant harm criteria are met;
4. The Local Authority Designated Officer contacts the Police Child Protection Unit to determine whether the incident being considered is potentially a criminal offence;
5. If the issue is one of a child protection nature, then a Child Protection Strategy Meeting (CPSM) is convened.
6. If a child is believed to be in need of services then the caller is advised to make a referral.
7. If a CPSM is not deemed necessary and a referral is not required yet the incident suggests that the person has behaved towards a child in a way that indicates their unsuitability to work with children (this includes professional misconduct issues) then the Local Authority Designated Officer will advise the organisation in relation to the summary under Appendix 5 in ‘Working Together’.

Clearly if the issue is of a particular serious nature, then from the on set it is expected that your organisation will make an immediate referral.

If in doubt, please make a referral!

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