All children and young people need to have trusted adults around them to make sure they are kept safe from harm by other people, or from hurting themselves. It is also about taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best possible outcomes.

What to do if you are concerned about a child

If you think that a child or young person under the age of 18 years old, who lives in the borough, is being abused or neglected, contact the MASH Team using the contact details below.

Not all concerns raised about a child will automatically lead to a child protection investigation. Less serious concerns may lead to a more general assessment of need and the provision of services or the offer of advice and information.

London Borough of Bexley Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

Telephone: 020 3045 5440

Email: childrenssocialcare.admin@bexley.gov.uk

Address: Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath DA6 7AT

Outside of office hours and at weekends or public holidays contact the 'out of hours contact' service on 020 8303 7777 or 020 8303 7171.

If you are seriously concerned about a child's immediate safety, dial 999.

Resources for Parents and Carers

Family Wellbeing service in Bexley

The Family Wellbeing team aims to provide help to families early, to prevent difficulties from becoming worse. The team works with children and families from 0 to 18 years old, where there is one or more of the following:

  • the permanent exclusion of a child from school
  • the risk of school exclusion
  • parental or carer mental ill health
  • parental learning disability
  • parental domestic abuse
  • parental drug or alcohol misuse
  • low-level neglect
  • physical chastisement

Parents and children can refer themselves, by phoning, emailing or writing to the Children’s Services Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) - contact details above.

Or, families can make direct contact via the Family Wellbeing duty line on 0203 045 4750.

Find out more about the Family Wellbeing service here. 

Helping children and young people stay safe online

Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D

Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D. is the Safeguarding Partnership for Children and Young People. Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D. is a statutory multi-agency partnership which brings together the key organisations that collectively hold responsibility for safeguarding children and young people in Bexley. 

Their vision:

In Bexley, we want healthy safe, resilient family networks in communities that are also safe. We want children to attain the skills that they need at schools and colleges so that they grow up to be independent and productive. We want children and young people driving our local growth and engaging in the plans we make and the services we deliver.

Find out more at Families | Bexley Safeguarding Partnership