As of 1 September 2025, the Cumberland Safeguarding Hub changed their name to Cumberland Children Advice & Support Service (CCASS).
This change of name is to support the ‘one front door’ model, so any children requiring support from the Local Authority, whether this be extra help via the Family Hubs, or a safeguarding response, will have their needs assessed through the screening and triage services CCASS offer, this will ensure the right level of service at the right time for children.
Consultation on the new name has been undertaken with children from across Cumberland, through the Participation and Outreach Team. We are proud to hear their views and have adopted their preferred name.
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In line with the name of this essential service in Cumberland, we would like to remind you how to make a referral into the Cumberland Children Advice & Support Service (CCASS) and what a good referral looks like.
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Referrals from professionals and organisations outside of Cumberland Council
Where there are significant and immediate concerns about the safety of a child, you should contact the police on 999.
Making a referral
Everyone has a responsibility to refer a child to CCASS 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 you believe the situation is urgent, but does not require the police, please call 0333 240 1727 and select option 2. The CCASS will talk to you about your concerns and take your referral over the phone. You will be asked to follow up the phone call by submitting a Single Contact Form within one working day. Please see the link below to the Cumberland Single Contact Form:
If the situation is not urgent, please also complete a Single Contact Form.
Do you need consent?
When making the referral, you need to ensure that those with Parental Responsibility are aware of the referral.
As a professional, it is good practice to ensure that the family are aware of the concerns within the referral, before you submit the Single Contact Form.
The family do not need to consent to a referral being made, as under GDPR we have a public duty to process information, but they do need to be aware and, ideally, in agreement to engaging, once the referral has been made.
Important: Please discuss with families that information will be exchanged with the statutory partners (Police and Health) within CCASS, so that the best possible outcome can be reached for them.
What makes a good referral?
When submitting a referral to CCASS, Practitioners should ensure that they include as much information as possible in their Single Contact Form.
The CCASS Team told us the information that they would find useful when you submit a referral. Within a referral, professionals should:
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Tell us about the child’s family and any other significant people:
- When providing information about the child’s family, include their full names and where they live, along with any significant people and relationships (including all/any contact details you have).
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Tell us what you are worried about and the context of the situation:
- Explain your concerns, the possible impact of these risks and any evidence. If possible, tell us where the child is now, so we know if they are safe.
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Tell us what is working well:
- Explain the context of the situation, the impact of the protective factors and any evidence.
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Tell us what has been done already to support the family:
- Explain any previous work you, or others, have done to support positive change.
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Tell us if those with Parental Responsibility are aware of the referral:
- As a professional, it is good practice to ensure the family are aware of the concerns within the referral. The family do not need to consent to a referral being made, as under GDPR we have a public duty to process information, but they do need to be aware and, ideally, in agreement to engaging.
How can a member of the public make a referral?
If a member of the public is concerned about a child, they can make a referral to CCASS. They can do this in a number of ways:
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Call the Cumberland Children Advice & Support Service on 0333 240 1727 during office hours (Monday to Thursday, 9am – 5pm, and Friday, 9am – 4.30pm).
- Discuss their concerns with someone who works with children, young people and their families, such as a Health Visitor, Social Worker, School Nurse or School Designated Safeguarding Lead.
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Submit a Single Contact Form, selecting ‘I am an adult with concerns about a child’.
If members of the public have a concern outside of office hours, which will not wait until the next working day, they should contact the Children’s Emergency Duty Team on 0333 240 1727 and provide them with as much information as possible.
How can you support a child to raise their concern?
If a child has been hurt by someone, or an adult or another young person has done something that makes them feel upset or scared, it is important that they tell somebody, so that they can get the support and protection they need.
Children can raise a concern in a number of ways:
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Speak to an adult they trust. This could be someone at their school, youth club, doctor’s surgery or any other place they attend.
- Everybody who works or volunteers with children and young people has a responsibility to protect children from harm. The child should tell their trusted adult about what is happening and what they are worried about.
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Call the Cumberland Children Advice & Support Service on 0333 240 1727 during office hours (Monday to Thursday, 9am – 5pm, and Friday, 9am – 4.30pm).
- Outside of office hours children can contact the Children’s Emergency Duty Team on 0333 240 1727.
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Submit a Single Contact Form, selecting ‘I am a child with concerns’. Someone will ring the child back to have a chat with them about what they are worried about and how we can help.
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Speak to Childline on 0800 1111 or via the Childline website. Calls are free and confidential.
Family Help and Extra Help in Cumberland
Professionals and families can also contact CCASS if they would like to request support or extra help for a/their family.
Please use the Single Contact Form, selecting ‘A professional who works with children, young people and families’. This will take you to the page where you can then select ‘Request Family Help/Early Help for a child and their family’.
Please note that you will need consent from the family to make a referral for Family Help.
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If you have any queries in relation to making a referral, please contact the Cumberland Children Advice & Support Service directly, using the contact details below:
To find out more about reporting a concern about a child in Cumberland, please visit the CSCP Website: Report a concern about a child | Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership
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