A disclosure is when a child or adult tells you, or shows you, that they are being harmed or are at risk. It may be a clear statement, a hint, or a drawing. It may come at an odd time, and the person may be upset or may seem calm.
It often takes courage. How you react matters. You do not need to be an expert. You need to be calm, kind and honest.
What to do
- Stay calm. Try not to show shock or disgust.
- Listen. Let the person speak at their own pace. Do not interrupt.
- Find a safe, private place if you can, but do not leave a child or adult alone and upset. Stay where others can see you, if that is your organisation's rule.
- Take it seriously. Say something like: "Thank you for telling me. I believe you. It's not your fault."
- Reassure the person that they did the right thing.
- Tell them what you will do next: that you need to tell someone whose job it is to keep people safe.
- Write it down as soon as possible (see below).
- Report it straight away to your named safeguarding lead, following your organisation's policy.
What not to do
- Do not promise to keep it secret. You cannot. Say: "I can't promise to keep this just between us, because I need to make sure you're safe. I will only tell the people who need to know."
- Do not investigate. Do not question the person for details, search for evidence, or speak to the person accused. Only trained professionals, such as the police and social workers, do that.
- Do not ask leading questions, such as "Did he hurt you?". Use open questions only if you need to, such as "Can you tell me more?"
- Do not push for details or ask the person to repeat their story to you again and again.
- Do not criticise the person accused. The person you are speaking to may care about them.
- Do not make promises you cannot keep, such as "Nothing will happen".
- Do not delay until the end of your shift, or until you have "more proof".
- Do not tell colleagues, parents or others who do not need to know.
A parent or carer should not be told if doing so could put the child at greater risk. The safeguarding lead decides this. Do not contact the family yourself.
Adults: respect their wishes, but do not keep it secret
An adult with capacity may ask you not to tell anyone. You should explain that you must share the concern with your safeguarding lead. They will consider the person's wishes. In some cases information can be shared without consent, for example if a child or other people are at risk, if a serious crime has happened, or if the person lacks capacity. The safeguarding lead decides, not you.
Recording what was said
Write a note the same day, as soon as it is safe. Include:
- the date, time and place;
- who was present;
- the person's own words, in quote marks, as exactly as you can remember;
- what you saw, such as their behaviour, and any marks you saw, without guessing at the cause;
- what you said and what you told them would happen next;
- your name and the time you wrote it, and who you passed it to.
Keep facts and opinions apart. Do not add your own conclusions, and do not photograph a person's injuries unless your organisation has told you to.
Sign and date the note. Hand it only to the safeguarding lead, and store it as your organisation says.
Look after yourself
Hearing a disclosure can be upsetting. Talk to your safeguarding lead or manager about support. Do not discuss it with friends or on social media.
Key points
- Listen, reassure, do not promise secrecy, do not investigate.
- Record the person's own words.
- Report straight away to the safeguarding lead.
- If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.