How collection works, including safewords and other collectors

When you check a child out in LittleLink ID, you will be asked who collected them. This helps record how the child left your care and supports your day-to-day safeguarding process. LittleLink ID allows you to check a child out with an authorised contact or with another collector when the correct safeword is provided.

Before collection
Before collection takes place, make sure the child’s profile has been completed with:

• emergency contacts
• authorised pickup information
• a safeword.
  

The safeword is set up in the child’s profile and is for internal use only. It does not appear on the public profile.

Checking a child out with an authorised collector
If the person collecting the child is already listed as authorised for pickup in the child’s contacts, you can select them during checkout.

To do this:

1. Go to the dashboard or Children page
2. Click Check Out next to the child’s name
3. Select the authorised collector from the available options
4. Confirm checkout.

Once checkout is complete, the child is removed from the public profile.

Checking a child out with another collector
There may be times when a child is collected by someone who is not listed as an authorised pickup contact. In this case, LittleLink ID supports checkout using the child’s safeword.

During checkout:

1. Click Check Out
2. Confirm the correct safeword
3. Enter the person's name who's collecting the child
4. Click on Verify Safeword & Check Out

This allows you to record the collection while adding an extra layer of reassurance at handover.

Why the safeword matters
The safeword helps you confirm that the collection arrangement is known and expected. It is part of the child’s stored safeguarding information and can be used when someone outside the approved pickup list arrives to collect the child.

For this reason, it is a good idea to:

• make sure the safeword is recorded correctly when adding the child
• keep it private
• update it if needed through the child’s profile.
  

What happens after checkout
Once the child has been checked out:

• they no longer appear as checked in
• they are removed from the public profile
• their emergency information is no longer shown publicly.
  

This helps make sure public information only appears while the child is in your care.

If collection details need updating
If a contact should be authorised for pickup but is not yet marked correctly, you can update the child’s contacts in their profile. If the change affects reviewed details, it may need to go through the child review process before becoming active.

Good practice for smoother handovers
To help collection run smoothly:

• keep emergency contacts up to date
• mark pickup permissions clearly
• make sure each child’s safeword is recorded
• review collection arrangements in advance where possible.