Safety concerns

Children exploring Gender Identity, Expression and Transition are vulnerable to abuse and harm. If something that a child or young person says makes you think they, or someone else, may not be safe you should respond following best practice.

You SHOULD always pass on your concerns about a child or young person if you think they are:

• Being bullied or discriminated against because of any aspect of who they are or how they express themselves. 
• In extreme emotional distress, particularly if they talk about harming themselves. (Some studies indicate suicide rates are higher among trans-identifying young people than their peers.) 
• Being controlled and coerced into adopting or relinquishing a particular gender identity against their will. (This applies whether they are being pressured into keeping their birth-assigned gender or changing it.) 
• Experiencing physical or sexual abuse. 
• Experiencing harmful practices linked to their gender identity e.g conversion therapy. 
• Being asked to make life-altering decisions that are beyond age-related expectations or their ability to understand. 
• Disclosing that their parent(s)/carer(s) are becoming abusive towards them because of their gender identity.

You must NOT share information with parents or another person that might place the child or young person at increased risk of harm.