Disclosure about a teen

[sunr111se]

My daughter just unloaded as I was reading her bedtime story (yes she's 13 and still likes a story at bedtime), she said one of her friends was drunk on arriving at school and had told her she's been drinking vodka and lemonade all night as her dad was scaring her. My daughter poured the contents of the drink bottle away and brought her a bottle of water; they aren't in any classes together and she didn't want to get her friend in trouble by saying anything. She said this child has regularly told her that her parents scare her and she doesn't feel safe but has lots of siblings and wants to make them safe. My daughter says she's got bruises on her body that they see when they change for PEand she is always scared and "scratchy". What do I do with this information? I was going to email the safeguarding lead but not sure whether I'm over reacting? Tia

Your not overreacting absolutely speak to the safeguarding lead the drinking vodka is a major concern but the brusies and the fact she's scared needs to be looked into it's a good thing she's got dd looking out for her but she needs being kept safe definitely safeguarding all the way op

I would ring well before the start of school in the morning and ask to speak urgently to the safe guarding lead. Emails can get missed.

That's a really good point and I agree it does sound rather urgent

Thanks for replies; I've posted in AIBU too as I'm just so bothered by it. She's scared it's half term coming up apparently. Poor poor kid

I start work at 6am but I'll
Give school a ring as soon as they are there. I didn't want to be "that person" but thank you for validating my concerns x

@sunr111se better to be 'that person' than later wishing you had been 'that person'.
Ringing is definitely the right thing to do especially if it is half term next week.

Yep the half term week is deff making me think I need to say something asap rather than wait it out

If you know her friends details you can report online to nspcc

www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/report/report-abuse-online/

I had to use it once before and it was looked into very quickly.

Please be that person. A few years ago my DD told me something about a friend. I contacted the safeguarding lead at school who escalated it to the police. The girl was hours away from getting on a train to meet a 17yo boy who turned out to be a man with convictions for violence. Her mum had no idea at all. I shudder to think what might have happened if DD hadn't found it all too much of a burden.

I can imagine that what that girl is telling your DD is a fraction of the truth and she needs someone to speak up for her. It's entirely possible she's chosen to tell your DD in the hope that someone takes the burden off her and reports what's going on.

That's made me cry; your daughters friend had a lucky escape thanks to a lovely friend. The "taking the burden off" is so overwhelmingly sad and I really hope she is sleeping safe in her bed tonight and things are ok, I really hope it's a massive over reaction and she's just being a teenage idiot. But someone other than me will be finding that out and hopefully soon x

You could be the one that saves her life and make this pain go away for her.i wish at 13 I had someone I could turn to so the sa would stop.

It's always better to be safe than sorry op and the brusies and the fact she does not feel safe sounds to me like there is good reason to be concerned.

Your actions could save this child op and you will be glad you addressed those concerns.