Safeguarding Children and Child Protection

All children deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential. In 2003, the Government published the Every Child Matters Green Paper. The Green Paper set out five outcomes that are key to children and young people's well being:

be healthy
stay safe
enjoy and achieve
make a positive contribution
achieve economic well being

To achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes, children need to feel loved and valued, and be supported by a network of reliable and affectionate relationships. They need to feel they are respected and understood as individual people and to have their wishes and feelings consistently taken into account.

Safeguarding children in Surrey is coordinated by the Surrey Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB). Further information regarding safeguarding children in Surrey can be accessed using the link to SSCB provided on this page.

Contacting children's social care in Surrey

For all children's social care enquiries about child protection, children with disabilities, assessments of children in need or any other social care concern, please phone the Surrey contact centre on 0300 200 1006 Monday to Friday 8am-6pm.

Outside of office hours and at weekends and public holidays, the Emergency Duty Team should be contacted by telephoning 01483 517898. However, if you are seriously concerned about a child's immediate safety, always dial 999.

What to do if you are concerned about a child

If you think that a child or young person under the age of 18 years old, who lives in Surrey, is being abused or neglected, you should report your concerns to Surrey County Council's Children's Service by telephoning the Surrey Contact Centre on 0300 200 1006 or, in an emergency, you should report the matter to Surrey Police.

Guildford Borough Council Policy

In demonstrating its commitment to safeguarding children and young people, Guildford Borough Council has a Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy. This document sets out how Guildford Borough Council and the individuals (including staff, contractors and volunteers) it employs should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004.

The full policy document and the Executive Summary can be accessed using the download links available on this page.