Worried About a Child? Make a Referral
Where there are significant immediate concerns about the safety of a child, you should contact the police on 999
Everyone has a responsibility to refer a child when it is believed or suspected that a child:
- Has suffered significant harm and /or;
- Is likely to suffer significant harm and/or;
- Has developmental and welfare needs which are likely only to be met through the provision of family support services (with the agreement of the child’s parent).
If your query is not urgent please use the email address social.care@northyorks.gov.uk to liaise with the Customer Service Centre and you will receive a response within 24 hours.
If you believe the situation is urgent but does not require the police, please call 0300 131 2 131 to make a telephone contact. When prompted, say “children’s social care”. One of the advisors will be happy to support you.
If you believe that the child you are worried about is already open to Children’s Social Care please contact the locality team directly:
- Scarborough Town – 01609 534888
- North Ryedale and Whitby – 01609 797280
- Scarborough South, South Ryedale and Filey – 01609 533518
- Selby – 01609 535633
- Ripon and Rural – 01609 535212
- Harrogate Town – 01609 535218
- Craven – 01609 535471
- Richmondshire – 01609 536737
- Hambleton – 01609 534258
Should your call be outside of business hours (Monday – Friday / 9 am-5 pm) please still call 0300 131 2 131 to speak to the Emergency Duty Team (when prompted, say “children’s social care”).
A written referral using the universal referral form must be completed and submitted within 24 hours of your telephone call.
You do not need to make a telephone contact prior to submitting a written referral should the situation not be urgent.
To make a written referral, a universal referral form must be completed. You must ensure that all relevant information, including parental consent or clear reasons why this has not been obtained, is provided to ensure that the referral can be progressed as effectively as possible. You will receive an acknowledgement of your contact being received. Should you not receive this please follow up to ensure your information has been received.
To ensure you are using the most up-to-date universal referral form please download the form below:
Useful Resources
To read our One Minute Guide for making a referral visit:
Consent
It is good practice that agencies work in partnership with parents and carers and they are informed of your concerns with consent obtained for referrals. Consent is always required for referrals to services such as the Early Help Service, without it, the services available to the family may be limited.
Consent is not required should you believe informing the parents or carers would place a child at significant risk of harm.
Where consent has not been obtained, and professionals feel that, after speaking with their safeguarding lead/manager, that a referral is still warranted, professionals should submit a referral detailing their actions and inform parents and carers of their actions.
Framework for decision-making
The “Framework for decision-making: Right help, at the right time by the right person” has been developed to help and support practitioners working with children across all agencies and organisations, when faced with a decision about the safety and wellbeing of a child or young person.
The guidance sets out which agencies and which levels of intervention may be needed to keep children safe, support families, build on their strengths, and promote resilience and overall outcomes for children, young people, and their families. For more information visit:
Once completed, the universal referral form needs to be submitted to social.care@northyorks.gov.uk
For a more detailed overview of the referral process in North Yorkshire see our Making a Referral One Minute Guide.
Consultation Line
The Consultation Line should be used when you have concerns about a child safeguarding situation and have spoken to your Designated Safeguarding Lead and are unsure how to proceed on the next steps. The concerns should be of a higher threshold than what can be supported by Early Help.
When contacting the Consultation Line, you will be put through to the North Yorkshire Multi-Agency Screening Team (MAST) for a consultation. You will be asked for your details including name, professional, and best contact number. You will also be asked for the details of the child/ren and family so we can establish whether they are already being offered support from the Children and Families Service and if there is existing support in place you will be transferred to the allocated worker.
Should there not be any current support in place and you still require advice about making a referral, the conversation will not be recorded on North Yorkshire Council systems. There is however a professional expectation that advice given will be followed and appropriately recorded within your records. Should you be advised that you need to make a safeguarding referral then you will be transferred through to the Customer Contact Centre for this referral to be made.
The Consultation Line number is available between 10 am and 4 pm on 01609 535070
For a more detailed overview of the Consultation Line see our One Minute Guide.
NYC Children & Families Service: Early Help
Should you wish to speak with your local NYC Children & Families Service: Early Help in relation to a child, young person, or family who may require Early Help, contact:
- Early Help East (Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale): 01609 534852
- Early Help West (Harrogate, Craven, Knaresborough, Ripon): 01609 534842
- Early Help Central (Hambleton, Richmondshire, Selby): 01609 534829
For further information and resources on Early Help in North Yorkshire, visit our dedicated Early Help Page.
To complete an Early Help Assessment, please download below, alongside the Early Help Strategy which provides an overview of what Early Help looks like in North Yorkshire:
CAMHS Crisis Service
Where you have urgent concerns regarding a child or young person’s mental health, please call CAMHS Crisis Service in the appropriate locality where you have a concern:
- Northallerton, Hambleton, and Richmondshire: TEWV All age Line:- 0800 0516171 (Option 2, then option 3), 7 days a week, 24 hours
- Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon: TEWV All age Line:- 0800 0516171 (Option 2, option 1), 7 days a week, 24 hours
- York and Selby: TEWV All age Line:- 0800 0516171 (Option 2 then option 2 ), 7 days a week, 24 hours
- Scarborough, Whitby & Ryedale: TEWV All age Line:- 0800 0516171 (Option 2 then option 4), 7 days a week, 24 hours
- Craven: BDCT First response 08009521181 7 days a week, 24 hours
Healthy Child Service
Healthy Child Service for children 0-6 years old
Anyone who is expecting a child or has a child up to the age of 6 will have a named Health Visitor.
Parents and carers can contact their local 0-6 Health Child Service (Health Visiting Team) directly for information by calling 03003 030 916.
Professionals can also contact the service by calling 03003 030 916.
Healthy Child Service for children and young people 6-19 years old
The Healthy Child programme for older children is aimed at those children who:
- need safeguarding support
- need support for emotional well-being and resilience and, alongside other local services, in reducing risk-taking in young people
- are in care
Parents, carers, and young people can access the Emotional Wellbeing and Resilience Service for support and information by 03003 030 916.
For more information about the Healthy Child Service visit: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/education-and-learning/support-schools/healthy-child-service
Page reviewed: January 2025
View all our news