If you are a professional who needs to speak to someone about a child.
Safeguarding concern
Call 999 if the child is in real danger now.
If you have safeguarding concerns about a child that requires a social worker please send the MASH contact form to mash@plymouth.gov.uk.
For urgent safeguarding concerns that require an urgent response call 01752 668000. Outside of normal working hours call Plymouth Out of Hours Service on 01752 346984. You will be asked to follow up with a written MASH contact form.
Need to talk to an allocated social worker
If you need to talk to the allocated social worker and it’s not an urgent safeguarding concern. Request a call back by completing our online form.
You will receive a response from the allocated social worker (duty social worker) within 1 working day.
Early help and SEND advice line
If you would like advice or guidance about a family or child you work with, book a conversation with one of our Family Support Workers using our online form.
Plymouth Early Help and SEND Advice line.
We can offer support around issues including
- emotional wellbeing
- parenting guidance
- school attendance
- social and emotional development
- SEND concerns
Callbacks are available from 9am to 4pm every weekday via the advice line. You can choose a half-hour slot that works for you.
Consent
The law requires that most of the time, we seek consent from families when working with them or sharing information about them.
This applies to universal services, early help services, targeted support services and statutory services.
There are times when information sharing takes place without consent, because the concerns are ‘safeguarding’ and there is a duty to share information in these instances. Where information is shared without consent, you will still be informed, by the agency/person sharing the information and asked for your views. The only time this isn’t applicable is when it might place a child or adult at risk of further harm.
More information is available from the Plymouth Safeguarding Children Partnership’s website, where the ‘Building Support’ document (PDF) outlines the approach to how we work together to safeguard children and young people.