Worried about your safety, or that of someone else?
If you believe a child or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, contact the police on 999.
Are you worried about a child?
If you have concerns about a specific child, please contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 020 7525 1921 (weekday 9-5) or 020 7525 5000 (out of hours). You can also email them on MASH@southwark.gov.uk. The referral form for the MASH can be found here.
Are you worried about an adult with physical/sensory disabilities, or an adult over 65?
Please email the contact team on OPPDContactteam@southwark.gov.uk, or call 020 7525 3324
Are you worried about an adult with a mental illness?
Please email MHContact@southwark.gov.uk, or call 020 7525 0088.
Are you worried about an adult with a learning disability?
Contact the Learning Disabilities Duty Team on LearningDisabilitiesDuty@southwark.gov.uk, or call 020 7525 2333.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)
If you have a DoLS request or enquiry, please email DOLS@southwark.gov.uk.
Allegations against people who work with children- LADO
The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) manages and has oversight of allegations across the children’s workforce. The LADO is employed by the Local Authority Children’s Services. It is the responsibility of the employer or equivalent to report allegations to, and liaise with, the LADO when there are allegations against people who work or volunteer with children. Additional information can be found here: LADO 7 minute briefing
You should contact the LADO when there is an allegation that someone who works with children, in connection with their employment or voluntary activity, has:
- behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
- possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
- behaved towards a child or children in a way that suggests they may pose a risk of harm to children
- behaved or may have behaved in a way that suggests they may not be suitable to work with children
- Behaves in a manner that discriminates against a child based on one or more of their protected characteristics [1].
[1] as defined by the Equalities Act 2010
You can also check the London Safeguarding Children Procedures; Core Procedure 7 Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers (People in Positions of Trust) who Work with Children.
If you need to make a referral or seek advice, contact:
Concerned about a specific issue?
Southwark has launched a new multi-agency forum to help tackle cuckooing, the practice in which a vulnerable individual's home is taken over and used for criminal activities. Please use this form if you want to make a referral to the forum.
More information about what to do if you are affected by knife crime and serious youth violence can be found here.
More information about domestic abuse and how to get help can be found here. And information about Clare's Law can be found here.
More information about FGM can be found here.
For concerns about Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), more information can be found here.
Counter terrorist police have launched a new service, Act Early, to support people who have concerned about radicalisation of friends or family. More information can be found on their website, or via their helpline on 0800 011 3764.