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Key Takeaways

• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility: non-clinical pharmacy workers have a Level 2 role in recognising, responding, recording and escalating concerns about children and young people.
• You do not need proof or a full picture before raising a concern; act promptly and record facts clearly rather than waiting for certainty.
• Children may show subtle signs during routine pharmacy contact: fear, withdrawal, unexplained injuries, repeated unmet needs, secrecy, or difficulty speaking freely.
• If a child is in immediate danger act urgently; for other concerns follow your safeguarding lead or local referral route without delay.
• Good practice includes professional curiosity, respectful communication, lawful information sharing and knowing your professional boundaries.

Children and Young People

• Safeguarding children: Protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other harms, and take steps that promote their welfare.
• Warning signs: Fearfulness, poor hygiene, repeated injuries, withdrawal, sexualised behaviour, concerning adult-child interactions, or explanations that do not fit the situation.
• Higher-risk situations: Exploitation, grooming, online harm, domestic abuse in the household, FGM, forced marriage, honour-based abuse, trafficking, modern slavery, and vulnerability to radicalisation.
• Voice of the child: Observe the child's behaviour and presentation and look for opportunities to hear their views even when adults dominate the interaction.
• Parental responsibility and consent awareness: Be aware who can make decisions and receive information, but remember safeguarding concerns may still need to be shared through the correct route.

Recognising Concerns in Pharmacy Practice

• Concerns can arise at the medicines counter, reception desk, over the telephone, during repeat visits, or on deliveries.
• Look for patterns: restricted privacy, fear, controlling behaviour, repeated missed health needs, distress or signs of neglect.
• Professional curiosity means noticing what seems inconsistent and asking what might be happening rather than accepting surface explanations.
• Follow local pathways: terminology and referral routes vary across the UK, so use your organisation's procedures and national guidance.

Responding Safely

1. Consider immediate safety - if a child is in urgent danger, act without delay.
2. Listen calmly. Do not investigate, ask leading questions, or promise absolute secrecy.
3. Record what you saw, heard and did, separating fact from opinion.
4. Escalate via the safeguarding lead, manager or the appropriate emergency/local safeguarding route.
5. If your concern is not taken seriously, escalate further through the agreed channels.
6. Where available, use early support or early-help routes rather than waiting for problems to worsen.

Recording, Sharing, and Preparation

• Write records as soon as possible. Keep them factual, specific and relevant.
• Include dates, times, who was present, what was said and what action was taken.
• Share information lawfully with the right people when this is necessary to protect a child.
• Ensure safeguarding policies, contact details, escalation routes and safer working arrangements are easy to find and use.