Reporting suspected child abuse can feel like a huge step – and one that people can often be hesitant to make. What if you’re wrong or just overreacting? But, then again, what if you’re not wrong? You may be the only person who can stand up for a child in that situation.
When situations become dangerous, interventions from the NSPCC can make a critical difference to a child’s future. When things are less serious, it can help start the process for parents and carers to get the support they need.
If you suspect a child is being abused, reporting your concerns can be absolutely crucial in keeping that child safe. So what stops people doing it?
What if I’m wrong?
A lot of people are worried about whether they are making the right call and whether they’re right to report it. “That’s understandable,” says Felicity Aspinall, Helpline practice manager at the NSPCC. “It’s a big responsibility to make that kind of judgment about someone else, but what I’d say is that you don’t need to make a judgment. Contact the NSPCC Helpline to talk it through and if any action is needed, we can take on that responsibility.”
It’s the right thing to report concerns and if you don’t take that first step, who will? It might be that you’re a neighbour, a parent from the child’s school or a member of the family and you’re the only person who has seen or heard something that could be really important. “You may think it’s not your business and what goes on in a family home is up to parents, but if the way parents are behaving is posing a risk to the children, then somebody needs to be stepping in,” says Aspinall.
Most professionals do not get to see children in the evenings, at weekends or in the family home. Relatives, neighbours and members of the community know more than what might be obvious from seeing a child at school. “We get calls from all kinds of different people, even, for example, delivery drivers, workmen, anybody who is going into a family home or going past seeing a child or seeing parents,” says Aspinall. Even fleeting concerns are absolutely worth reporting. “It’s always worth a phone call.”
Fears over repercussions
People are sometimes worried about what the repercussions might be, either for the family or for themselves. Remember that you can always report anonymously. You don’t even have to give details about those involved at first. “We can talk it through and take it from there,” says Aspinall.
She says people are often concerned that making a report will result in extreme action, such as children being removed, but that’s rarely the case. “Normally we work with parents and carers to offer support. Children are rarely taken away and when they are, it’s the only way to keep them safe.”
It can be emotionally difficult, but sometimes adults need support. “Often, family members have tried really hard to help, but if a child remains at risk, a report might be the only way to safeguard them,” says Aspinall.
Being concerned about interfering
Calling the NSPCC Helpline is a starting point and there’s no commitment. The Helpline is run by trained and experienced staff, who are understanding, non-judgmental, and will listen and take you seriously. If it’s something you’re concerned about, it’s best to talk it through, and NSPCC child protection specialists are trained to tease out whether it is a different type of parenting style or neglect or abuse.
The NSPCC Helpline gets calls about everything. Emotional abuse can be more difficult to define and that’s why having these conversations can be helpful.
People should get in touch, even if it’s something they see out in public. “If you’re in the supermarket and you see someone hit a child or you find young children wandering around in public, those are the kind of times when you should get in touch straight away,” says Aspinall.
Not knowing who to contact
Don’t feel that you need to have all the facts in front of you. People often get in contact with brief information. The NSPCC will always explore any concerns raised, as well as the family situation, and try to gather as many details as possible. The caller can always make contact again later to share any future worries. Report as soon as possible, but it’s better to report something at a later stage than not at all.
The NSPCC Helpline is currently taking calls from 10am-4pm Monday to Friday, on 0808 800 5000. You can contact help@nspcc.org.uk at any time to speak to a child protection specialist via email. If you are concerned about a child’s immediate safety, it’s best to call the police straight away.
After making contact with the NSPCC Helpline, the information is assessed and a decision made as to whether to refer the issue to children’s services or the police. The NSPCC may also give out advice and help signpost the caller to the best option. If you remain concerned, keep reporting. Don’t rely on someone else.
There are other ways you can help make a difference too. The NSPCC is encouraging individuals and communities to get involved in its Childhood Day event on Friday 9 June. For example, volunteers can hold local fundraising activities, participate in an event such as the Childhood Day Mile, and collect donations to help support the charity’s work to protect children.
Childhood Day is a day that brings everyone in the UK together to have fun and help protect children. Whether you join the Childhood Day Mile, volunteer or donate – we need everyone to play their part.
