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If a child is in immediate danger

Always call 999 first. Do not wait.
Emergency
999
Police (non-emergency)
101
Social Work
01467 537111

Home ›  Concerns

Worried about a child?

If you think a child or young person is being harmed, neglected, or is at risk — don't wait. Getting in touch quickly could make a real difference to their safety.

Key contact numbers

If you are worried about a child, you can contact any of the following. You do not need to be certain abuse is happening — it is always better to raise a concern early.
Emergency

999

Child in immediate danger — always call first
Aberdeenshire Social Work

01467
537111

Mon–Fri, 8:45am–5pm
Out of Hours Social Work

03456 08
12 06

Evenings, weekends & Bank Holidays
Police (non-emergency)

101

For non-urgent concerns and information
ChildLine

0800 1111

Free, 24/7 — for children and young people
NSPCC Helpline

0808 800 5000

Adults concerned about a child — 24/7
Out of Hours Emergency Social Work

03456 08 12 06

Available 5pm–8:45am weekdays, all day weekends and Bank Holidays. For urgent child protection concerns when the main Social Work office is closed.

What to do if you're worried about a child

You do not need to have all the answers before contacting us. It is always better to raise a concern and let professionals make the assessment. You will not get into trouble for raising a concern in good faith.

Stay calm and think about the child's safety right now

If the child is in immediate danger, call 999 first. Do not wait. Your call could save a life.

Write down what you have seen or heard

If a child is not in immediate danger, note down as much as you can remember — dates, times, what the child said or did, any injuries you saw. Use the child's own words where possible.

Contact Social Work or the Police

Call Aberdeenshire Children & Families Social Work on 01467 537111 (Mon–Fri 8:45am–5pm), or the out-of-hours service on 03456 08 12 06 outside those hours. You can also call Police Scotland on 101.

Share what you know

When you call, you will be asked some questions. Tell them the child's name and address if you know it, and explain why you are worried. You don't need to be sure abuse is happening — any concern is worth sharing.

Let professionals take it from here

Once you have reported your concern, it will be assessed by a trained professional. You may be asked for further information. You do not need to investigate yourself — your job is to report, not to find out what happened.

GIRFEC (Getting it Right for Every Child) is Scotland's approach to supporting children at the earliest possible stage. It means that professionals across all sectors work together to give children the right help, at the right time, from the right people.

If you have a lower-level concern about a child's welfare, you can also:

  • Speak to the child's school (class teacher, head teacher, or pastoral support)
  • Contact the child's GP or health visitor
  • Speak to a local third sector or community organisation

Visit GIRFEC Aberdeenshire ↗

If a child discloses abuse to you, here is what to do:

  • Listen carefully — stay calm, give them your full attention
  • Believe them — children very rarely make up allegations of abuse
  • Do not promise to keep it secret — be honest that you may need to tell someone to keep them safe
  • Do not ask leading questions — let them tell you in their own words. Avoid "why" questions
  • Do not investigate — do not try to question other adults or gather evidence yourself
  • Write down what was said — use the child's own words, as soon as possible after the conversation
  • Report promptly — contact Social Work or Police as soon as you can

Reassure the child that they were right to tell you, and that you are going to make sure they get help.

When you contact Social Work with a concern about a child, a trained social worker will assess the information and decide what action is needed. This may include:

  • Gathering more information (speaking to school, health, police)
  • A home visit to check on the child
  • An Inter-Agency Referral Discussion (IRD) with Police and Social Work together
  • A Child Protection Enquiry
  • Referral to early intervention or family support services

You may be asked for more information. If there is no further action taken, you will normally be told why. You can always call again if you remain concerned.

Professionals can find more detailed information about the process on the Guidance & Resources page.

Social Work and Police will try to keep your identity confidential where possible. However, in some cases — for example if the matter goes to court — it may not be possible to guarantee full anonymity.

You can make an anonymous report, but providing your name helps professionals follow up with you if they need more information, and means they can tell you what has happened.

You will not get into trouble for making a genuine, good-faith report.