General public

I’m a Parent or Carer | Public Protection NLIt is everyone’s responsibility to protect children. All children have a right to grow up in a caring and safe environment. All adults have a responsibility to protect children.

If you are concerned about a child speak to someone

This might be a health visitor, nursery staff, teacher, GP, police officer, your social worker or a member of staff from our social work locality offices.

If the child is in immediate danger you should contact the police (999).

What might make me concerned?

Children rarely tell if they are being abused, however, there may be signs which make you concerned and may be an indication of a child being abused or neglected:

The child may:

• have unexplained bruising or bruising in an unusual place
• appear afraid, quiet or withdrawn
• be afraid to go home
• appear hungry, tired or unkempt
• be left unattended or unsupervised
• have too much responsibility for their age
• be acting out in a sexually inappropriate way
• be living with domestic abuse in their home
• be being exploited by adults or others

An adult may:

• be acting in a violent or sexual manner towards a child
• be constantly criticising, ignoring or humiliating the child
• be using alcohol or other drugs whilst caring for a child
• have other difficulties which make it difficult for them to care for or protect their child (for example mental health problems, physical disability etc)

These are some examples of what might make you worried. On their own, they do not necessarily mean a child is being abused. You may know of other concerns that are happening which means you need to take action to protect the child.

What should I do if I am concerned?

Children can’t always get help for themselves, they may need you to get help for them. Remember – if you are concerned speak to someone.

What happens next?

All information received is treated seriously. The first priority for everyone is making sure the child is safe.

If help is needed to protect the child and support the family to meet the needs of the child, staff from agencies like health, education, social work and police will work together and agree how best to provide this.

In most cases, we can help children by providing extra support to them and their parents or carers. In a very small number of cases, children can be best helped by living somewhere else; we can support most of these children to return home safely.

Just remember: if you are concerned about a child speak to someone. This might be a health visitor, nursery staff, teacher, GP, police officer, your social worker or a member of staff from our social work locality offices.

If the child is in immediate danger you should contact the police (999).

Looking for other information?

We have specific information for people who are:

• a child or young person looking for information on child protection  I’m a Child or Young Person
• a parent or carer of a child or children affected by child protection issues  I’m a Parent or Carer
• professionals I’m a Professional or Practitioner
• looking for information on child protection training Training Events

Directory records | North Lanarkshire Council

Find out about Social Work Locality Offices in North Lanarkshire, including facilities and contact details.

It is everyone’s duty to ensure that adults in North Lanarkshire are safe from fear of being harmed.

What is adult support and protection?

The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 is a piece of law which aims to protect adults from being harmed. This is because some people may find it more difficult to stop harm from happening to them. The Act calls people in this situation ‘adults at risk’.

The Act defines adults at risk as people aged 16 years or over who:

* are unable to safeguard themselves, their property (their home, the things they own), their rights or other interests;

* are at risk of harm; and

* because they are affected by a disability, mental disorder, illness or physical or mental infirmity, are more vulnerable to being harmed than others who are not so affected.

All three criteria need to be met for someone to be supported under Adult Support and Protection. 

What is harm?
Harm can take a wide range of forms. It can be intentional – often called abuse. However, harm is often unintentional – and can happen through accident, lack of knowledge, skill or understanding.

Harm can be caused through what is done, or not done- so, where care and support are not provided when they are needed, it can cause harm.

Types and possible signs of harm

Physical harm

• unexplained or unusual injuries
• a delay in seeking treatment for injuries or illness
• a sudden increase in confusion
• unexplained deterioration of health or appearance

Psychological harm

• people being anxious or afraid
• misuse of medication, that is, not giving medicines properly
• unexplained changes of behaviour, becoming anxious or withdrawn, fear of another person
• pressure by family or professionals to have someone moved into, or taken out of, care
• hostile or unkind behaviour by a person

Financial harm

• unexplained debt, not paying bills for services
• another person using the adult’s possessions, bank account or property without his or her informed consent

Neglect

• not having their basic needs met, such as adequate food or heating
• not being provided with adequate information about their rights or entitlements, or being misinformed
• the adult at risk not receiving appropriate care, which would protect them from harm

Sexual harm

• prejudicial actions or remarks to the adult at risk about age, gender, disability, race, colour, sexual or religious orientation
• unexplained changes of behaviour, becoming anxious or withdrawn, fear of another person.Where harm can happen?

Because harm can often be linked to someone’s care needs and their inability to protect themselves, harm often happens in a place where a person should feel safest. Harm can happen anywhere including the family home, a hospital ward, care home, day centre, work or a public place.

Who can cause harm?

Anyone can cause an adult to be at risk of harm. Because of the nature of harm, it is not unusual for this to be someone an adult knows well.

This includes:

• someone who the adult works with
• a relative or friend
• someone supporting the adult, either as a paid or unpaid carer or support
• the adult themselves

After harm is reported

Councils have a duty under the Act to make enquiries into an adult’s wellbeing, property or financial affairs, where they know or believe an adult may be at risk of harm.

Reports that an adult may be at risk can come from the community (friend, relative, neighbour, carer) or from another public body such as the police or the NHS. In either case, the relevant social work department is legally required to look into it.

If you phone in to report a concern, your identity will be kept confidential unless you have given permission for it to be passed on.

A person’s rights

The Act is about achieving a balance between respecting people’s rights and taking action where necessary to support and protect them.

The Act exists to provide the necessary support to help individuals live their lives as they wish. If the local council is worried about someone, they can visit and speak to the person they are worried about. The council cannot take any action without the consent of the person.

The council must also take account of:

• the wishes and feelings of the adult at risk (past and present); and
• the views of others, such as the adult’s nearest relative or others with an interest in the person’s well-being.

An individual thought to be at risk of harm has the right, as long as there are not concerns that they are under undue pressure, to choose to be part of any adult protection investigation. They can choose not to be interviewed or answer questions.

They also have a right to advocacy support.

The phrase violence against women and girls is used to describe violent and abusive behaviour directed at women and girls because they are women and girls. It is behaviour which is carried out predominantly by men. It is an abuse of power and stems from systemic, deep-rooted women’s inequality. VAWG limits women’s and girls’ freedom and potential and is a fundamental violation of human rights.’ – Scottish Government 2023

We take these issues very seriously and have formed the North Lanarkshire Violence Against Women Strategic Group in order to address them.

The group brings together statutory and voluntary organisations which have an important role to play in tackling domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women.

We aim to deliver the national approach as detailed in Equally Safe – Scotland’s Strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls at a local level and are currently implementing the North Lanarkshire Violence Against Women Strategy. The national strategy, released in 2023 by the Scottish Government and COSLA, clearly places the root cause of violence against women being gender inequality.

For more detailed information click this link

Violence Against Women

The fundamental purpose of MAPPA is public protection and managing the risk of serious harm.

MAPPA is not a statutory body in itself but is a statutory framework through which the Responsible Authorities discharge their statutory responsibilities and protect the public in a co-ordinated manner.