A child begins to disclose abuse but first asks you to promise not to tell anyone. How should you respond?

Explain gently that you cannot promise secrecy, as you may need to tell someone to keep them safe

Promise to keep it secret so they will talk

Refuse to listen unless they agree to secrecy

Agree, then break the promise later

After a child discloses possible abuse, what is the appropriate next step?

Refer to children's social care without delay, following local procedure

Investigate the family yourself first

Wait to see if the child says more

Do nothing unless the child is visibly injured

Whose welfare is the priority in a child safeguarding situation?

The child's welfare, which is paramount

Avoiding difficult conversations

A young child has repeated unexplained injuries and a carer's explanation that does not fit. What should the nurse do?

Treat it as a safeguarding concern and refer it

Accept the explanation and move on

Assume children are simply accident-prone

You are worried about a child but are not certain abuse is occurring. What is the right approach?

Share the concern through safeguarding; you do not need to be certain to refer

Wait until you have definite proof

Keep it to yourself in case you are wrong

Part B6 of 8 Improving Safety and Quality of Care Chapter 64 of 75

Safeguarding Children Scenario Questions

NMC CBT safeguarding children practice: recognising abuse, not promising secrecy, referring to social care, and worked scenario answers.

Start reading ← Back to all parts ~5 min read

By JobLabs Editorial · UK healthcare reference editorial team

· July 16, 2026 · Updated Jul 17, 2026 · 2 min read

Safeguarding children carries a particular weight, because children may be unable to protect themselves or even to name what is happening to them. The CBT tests recognition, the response to a disclosure, and the principle that sits above everything else.

The child’s welfare is paramount

The overriding principle is that the welfare of the child is paramount. It takes priority over the wishes of parents or carers and over normal confidentiality. Information can and must be shared where it is needed to protect a child from harm. Questions that tempt you to prioritise a parent’s wishes, ward convenience, or avoiding an awkward conversation over the child’s safety are testing whether you hold to this.

Never promise secrecy

The most tested moment is a child who starts to disclose abuse and asks you to promise to keep it secret. You do not promise. Keeping the child safe may require sharing what they tell you, so you explain gently that you cannot keep it secret and will have to tell someone who can help. Promising secrecy to get them to talk, refusing to listen, or agreeing and then breaking the promise all either betray the child or leave them at risk. Honesty, kindly delivered, is the answer.

Refer, do not investigate

As with adults, your role is to recognise and refer, not to investigate. After a disclosure or a concern, you refer promptly to children’s social care or your designated safeguarding lead, following local procedure, and contact the police if a child is in immediate danger. You do not investigate the family yourself or confront a carer. And you do not wait for certainty: unexplained injuries with an account that does not fit, or a nagging worry without proof, are enough to refer, because the safeguarding process exists to assess exactly that.

Recognise the signs

Warning signs include unexplained or repeated injuries, explanations that do not match the injury, neglect, and changes in a child’s behaviour or presentation. Some abuse leaves no physical mark at all. Acting on the concern, rather than waiting for visible injury, is what protects children. Next: VTE prevention. Five safeguarding children scenarios first.

Sources & further reading

Key takeaway from Safeguarding Children Scenario Questions

Frequently asked questions

Can I promise a child I will keep their disclosure secret?

No. You never promise to keep a child's disclosure of abuse secret, because you may need to share it to keep them safe. You explain gently that you will have to tell someone who can help, which is more honest than a promise you cannot keep.

Who do I refer a child protection concern to?

To children's social care, or the local authority safeguarding team, without delay, following local procedure and your organisation's designated safeguarding lead. In an emergency where a child is in immediate danger, you contact the police.

Whose interests come first in child safeguarding?

The child's. The welfare of the child is paramount, which means it takes priority over the wishes of parents or carers and over normal confidentiality. Information can and must be shared where it is needed to protect a child from harm.

Check your understanding

Quick quiz: Safeguarding Children Scenario Questions

5questions. Click an answer to see the explanation. Your score is saved on this device only.

1
A child begins to disclose abuse but first asks you to promise not to tell anyone. How should you respond?
You never promise secrecy about abuse, because keeping a child safe may require sharing the information. Explaining this honestly and gently is right. Promising secrecy, refusing to listen, or breaking a promise all damage trust or leave the child at risk.
2
After a child discloses possible abuse, what is the appropriate next step?
You refer promptly to children's social care or the safeguarding lead, following local procedure, so the concern can be assessed. You do not investigate yourself, delay, or wait for visible injury. Emotional and other abuse may leave no marks, so action is based on the concern.
3
Whose welfare is the priority in a child safeguarding situation?
The welfare of the child is paramount, taking priority over parents' wishes and over normal confidentiality. Information is shared where needed to protect the child. Prioritising the parents, ward convenience, or avoiding awkwardness over the child's safety is wrong.
4
A young child has repeated unexplained injuries and a carer's explanation that does not fit. What should the nurse do?
Unexplained injuries with an inconsistent account are a recognised warning sign and a safeguarding concern to refer. Accepting an explanation that does not fit, confronting the carer yourself, or assuming accident-proneness could leave a child at continued risk.
5
You are worried about a child but are not certain abuse is occurring. What is the right approach?
You refer a genuine concern without needing certainty, because the safeguarding process exists to assess it. Waiting for proof, staying silent for fear of being wrong, or needing a colleague's agreement can all delay protection for a child at risk.