If you report safeguarding concerns to your manager and nothing is done, what should be your next step?

The appropriate next step after reporting safeguarding concerns to your manager, and no action being taken, is to contact local social services and raise the concern. This action is essential because safeguarding issues involve the welfare and protection of vulnerable individuals, often children, and it is crucial to ensure that those concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately.

By contacting local social services, you are following the proper channels to ensure that the concern is investigated by professionals who are trained to handle such situations. This step demonstrates your commitment to safeguarding and your responsibility to act in the best interest of the child or vulnerable person involved. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing their safety and welfare over procedural hierarchy within your organization.

Engaging with parents directly could compromise the safety of the child and may discourage reporting further incidents. Simply documenting the inaction and waiting for another incident does not take proactive measures to protect the individual in question. Escalating the issue to higher management can also be a valid step, but it is ultimately more effective to involve external safeguarding authorities who can take immediate action when internal processes fail.