A disclosure of abuse is where the child (or someone close to the child) talks to us about what is happening to them.

Sometimes people talk about an allegation of abuse; for example, saying that the child has accused their parent of abusing them. While this is accurate use of common language, it can get confusing, because in safeguarding, an allegation is a claim that someone who has a job or role that gives them access to children or young people (i.e. a role that requires a DBS check) has done something that has harmed a child.

While it is not essential, we would suggest using the word “disclosure” when we mean that the child (or someone close to them) has told us about abuse and we use “allegation” when we talk about a concern about someone (an employee or volunteer) in a position of trust.