Recording, evidence and multi-agency working

Clear safeguarding records make patterns visible. A single note about a phone, car, location or mood may seem small, but several accurate entries across shifts help the safeguarding lead, social worker, police or exploitation panel assess risk.

Records should separate fact, the child's words and professional judgement. Include dates, times and locations and describe vehicles, registration numbers, names or nicknames, phone numbers and social media handles. Note clothing, injuries, new possessions, cash, missing episodes, visitors, school attendance, threats, debts and the child's emotional state.

Multi-agency working can involve the placing authority, local children's social care, police, school or virtual school, health, youth justice, the independent reviewing officer, advocates, missing services, transport police, exploitation panels and specialist voluntary services. Update the child's safety plan whenever the risk picture changes.

Practical recording habits

• Record promptly: do not leave key details to memory.
• Use exact words: mark clearly what the child said.
• Capture context: what happened before and after the concern.
• Share through the right route: use local safeguarding and information-sharing procedures.
• Follow up: hand over actions needed on the next shift.

In exploitation work, accurate small details can be the difference between isolated worries and a visible safeguarding picture.