This section provides professionals with information on how to make a Safeguarding Referral or make a Request for Early Help.
You can also access a range of information including procedures and assessment tools from the links on the left hand side of this page.
Making a Safeguarding Referral
If you are a professional and want to make a safeguarding referral please use the Children’s Services SAFEGUARDING referral form.
The Threshold Guidance Document, updated in September 2020, will be a useful reference tool to help you.
Animated Young People’s Version of Threshold Guidance
Please email your completed form to firstcontact@durham.gov.uk
Professionals Making a Request for Early Help
If you are a professional wanting to support County Durham’s children, young people and families with early help please follow the following process:
1.Obtain agreement with the family for their information to be discussed and shared with relevant agencies in order that appropriate support can be offered and provided (see Aide Memoir below);
2. Complete the new on-line Early Help Request Form at the following link: https://doitonline.durham.gov.uk/service/Early_Help_Referral
- Select ‘Services’
- Type in ‘Early Help’ in Keyword Search to take you to the Early Help Form.
There will be the facility for you to create an account (see below instructing how to create an account) which will allow you to save and return to an incomplete Early Help Form before submitting should you require this.
By creating an account, you will also be able to:
- view the progress of the Early Help Request Form and
- view the history of all your submitted Early Help Request Forms OR
3. Telephone our Early Help Triage Workers on 03000 267 979 (Option 4)
For more information please refer to the Briefing Note which can be found here.
The below are some key guidance documents to assist with this new process.
- Creating a CRM Account for non DCC Professionals
- DCC Staff making an online request for Early Help
- Aide memoir for professionals obtaining agreement from families
- Staff Briefing Note providing more information on Place Based Early Help developments.
- Example of a Locality Early Help Conversation – Transcript
The Thresholds Document may also be a useful reference tool. Please email your completed form to firstcontact@durham.gov.uk
First Contact aims to get families the support they need, when they need it, from the right service. The will help you provide them with the details they need. For further guidance see First Contact Service Guidance for Professionals
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers
Process to Contact LADO
After a successful pilot the method for contacting the LADO has been changed permanently, where contact will be facilitated through dedicated customer service staff via telephone ONLY. Using email or the previous referral form will no longer be possible. Basic referral information will be obtained from you, and where advice or guidance is required from the LADO, your call will be transferred to the LADO on duty. If there is a more appropriate course of action for your referral, you will be advised by the customer service team at the time.
LADO Contact Number – 03000 268835
The Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers procedures can be found on our Multi-Agency Child Protection Procedures.
Independent Reviewing Officers (IRO)
An IRO is responsible for chairing a wide variety of meetings including Child Protection Conferences and Child Protection Reviews. For more detailed information on the Independent Reviewing Officers (IRO) role please visit the Durham County Council website.