What should I do if a child wants to tell me something important?

If a young person tells you that they want to talk to you about something that is worrying, hurting or frightening them:

* Find a place where you can listen in private - if possible, immediately.

* Be clear from the start that you can't keep this information to yourself, and you may have to tell others.

* Be patient - this could take a long time as the child will be in distress, and unsure what or how much to tell.

* Try to stay calm and reassuring - the child is relying on you.

* Try to stay non-judgemental - the child may very well love their abuser, so if you seem shocked that will make the situation even more confusing for them.

* Your job is to listen, not to ask leading questions (which would mean that if a case went to court the child's evidence may well not be accepted).

* Make notes as soon as possible, using the child's own words, and keep the information factual as opposed to your feelings/views.

* Tell the designated person for child protection as soon as possible, certainly on the same day. The child will need to be clear about who is taking what action, and when.

* If you work from home, ring Social Services and speak to the duty social worker - if you are in any doubt, ring the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 -their staff will help and support you.

The child may have been threatened not to tell anyone (the abuser may have said, 'You will be taken away, I will be put in prison if you tell'), or they could be feeling guilty because they've been led to believe that it's their fault. The child may also believe that it's not safe to tell as they don't trust anyone any more, or they may think that you won't believe them anyway (they may have tried to tell before, and not been heard). All this will affect what they say.

Child abuse occurs in all communities, social classes, religious and cultural groups - just because someone is a professional does not mean that they do not abuse children. Remember that if an accusation is made against someone you know or work with, don't assume it can't be true.

Disabled children can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and may find it harder to communicate their views: a set of pictures that portray feelings can help or you could consider gaining the assistance of someone who has worked closely with the child.

Other agencies may have some information on the family, so always work with them. If you are working within an organisation you should have a child protection policy. It may be useful to have discussed this with parents, or informed them of the contents. Hopefully they will then be able to understand that your actions have been in line with the policy, and in the best interests of the child. They could contact Parentline Plus for support on 0808 800 2222.

Finally, make sure there is someone to support you - a work colleague, friend or relative - because listening to information of this nature can be very traumatic.