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Child safety | What can I do if I am worried about a Child’s Welfare? | Bullying | Who can I leave my child with? | Private Foster Care | Domestic Violence What can I do if I am worried about a Child’s Welfare? If you are worried about your won or someone else’s treatment of a child, seek advice about what practical and emotional support is available. If you think that a child is being abused or suffering neglect, then please contact your local Social Services Assessment team: Llanelli 01554 742322 Carmarthen/Dinefwr 01558 825485 Or Out of Hours Emergency Service [if a problem occurs out of office hours and cannot wait until the next working day] 01558 824283 Other useful contacts Carmarthenshire Local Safeguarding Children’s Board 01267 246544 NSPCC Helpline – 0800 800 500 Your Health Visitor or School Health Nurse Dyfed Powys Police – 0845 330 2000  Bullying Warning Signs: Running away, non-attendance at school, other learning and behavioural difficulties for no obvious reason. Your child has injuries with no feasible explanation for them. Action: See someone at the school for their support and action. If bullying is happening outside school, consider contacting the family of the child who is bullying and try to find a way to work together to sort it out. What to Say to children: Refuse to put up with bullying. Walk away, tell an adult or friend and avoid fighting. Parents – listen to your child, reassure and be there for them. Prevention: Talk to your child about their school day. Teach your child to respect others from a young age. Teach your child that prejudice and bullying is unacceptable. Contacts: Carmarthenshire Education Welfare Service – 01267 246531 Childline – 0800 1111 Kidscape – 08451 205 204 Bullying online  www.bullying.co.uk
Samaritans/Samariaid – 0845 7909090 BT malicious caller freephone – 0800 666 700 Who can I leave my child with? As parents you have responsibility for the safety and well being of your children. As a result it is important that you think very carefully about the person you are going to leave them with, whether this is a stranger, close relative or a friend. When you leave your child in the care of someone else you are taking a risk with his or her safety and welfare. When considering a temporary carer for your child it is important that you choose someone with the abilities and high standards that you would expect of yourself. This includes someone that will make sure they are fed, changed, kept safe, given room to play, feel secure and can deal with difficulties which may occur. Generally a babysitter will come to your home to take car of your child. Make sure you talk to your babysitter before you leave. Let them know when to expect you back and make sure they have contact details in case of emergencies. Babysitters do not need qualifications or a certificate to look after children. As a result anyone can advertise his or her services as a babysitter. The Children’s Legal Centre and the NSPCC recommend that the minimum age of a babysitter should be 16 years of age. This is based on the idea that at 16 and above, an individual is much more aware of potential dangers and risks and could seek help quickly if necessary. This age limit is also linked with the possible action which could be taken by the police if anything were to go wrong and an injury resulted. It is most likely that you as a parent would be held responsible if anything goes wrong if your babysitter is under the age of 16. Often a good babysitter will have a good reputation locally and can be recommended by a friend or neighbour. However it is essential that you meet personally with the prospective babysitter before you decide to leave your child in their care. Private Foster Care Private Fostering is very different from the care provided by local councils through approved foster carers. It occurs when a child under 16 is cared for, for more than 28 days by an adult who is not a close relative, by private arrangement between the parent and the carer. If you are thinking about placing your child with a private foster care, or becoming a foster carer, the first thing you must do is contact your local Social Services Assessment Team; Llanelli Assessment Team – 01554 742322 Carmarthen/Dinefwr Assessment Team – 01558 825485 Social services are required by law to approve by law such arrangements. The prospective foster carer will need as much information as possible about your child (including medical history) and Social Services can give you a form to help with this. As the birth parents, you retain full parental responsibility. You must remain in touch with the private foster carer and participate in all decision-making processes concerning your child’s life. Domestic Abuse Warning Signs: Any violence between adults will negatively affect children. Seek support and help as soon as possible. The longer it lasts, the more damaging violence is. Action: Report your concerns about yourself or someone else to the police. If you are worried that your child might be affected, talk to them about what is happening. Spend time together talking through worries they have. What to Say: Children need time to discuss the feelings they have about violence. Children need to know that it is not their fault and that this is not the way relationships should be. Prevention: A violent partner can take responsibility for violence by seeking help to stop. Make sure that you offer a positive role model for children so that they learn other ways of behaving. Contacts: Llanelli Assessment Team – 01554 742322 Carmarthen/Dinefwr Assessment Team – 01558 825485 Dyfed Powys Police – 0845 3302000 Women’s Aid - Amman Valley – 01269 697474 or 01269 597781 - Carmarthen – 01267 238410 (24 hour helpline) 01267 234725 - Llanelli – 01554 741212 National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 80 10 800 www.notyourfault.org
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