Monday 30th November 2009 (News Article)
NSPCC

Long Text - for magazines and news letters
The NSPCC is urging professionals working with young people 
to call their free Helpline if they are ever uncertain about a 
child’s welfare. 

Working regularly with children and young people, it is 
important to have a clear child protection procedure to follow 
if a child discloses abuse but, it may not always feel that 
simple. A child may come to you about a friend without 
saying who they are talking about, or you may have vague 
concerns that a child is being neglected, without being certain. 
A young person may approach you who at 16 or 17 wants to 
talk to someone without the abuse being reported. 

If you are uncertain about what to do, the NSPCC Helpline 
can provide you with help and support. The Helpline is for any 
adult who needs advice about a child's welfare, including staff 
and volunteers who work regularly with children and young 
people. As John Cameron, head of the Helpline, explains: "We 
know how difficult it can be to spot the danger to a child and 
how complex the issues can be.  We also understand that 
professionals have dilemmas about reporting safeguarding 
issues they feel uncertain about.  When a child or someone 
discloses abuse, the first thing you must always do is take 
what they may say seriously, record things well and follow 
your procedures but, if you're unsure what to do next, then 
we'd encourage you to speak to us."

The Helpline is a free service staffed by trained child 
protection advisors, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When 
you speak to an advisor you can remain anonymous.  The 
Helpline will help you assess the situation, advise you about 
your responsibilities to the child and explain what to do next. 
Where the Helpline advisor is made aware of the identity of a 
child at risk of abuse they will make a referral to children’s 
services or the police even though professionals will have 
clearly defined reporting protocols locally. The Helpline will 
always encourage professionals to follow these procedures. 

The Helpline can be particularly useful in more difficult 
situations, for example where you don't have enough 
information to make a referral, or if you feel uncertain about 
whether or not the child is at risk. John Cameron says: "We 
would always prefer people to talk to us, than to struggle with 
a situation on their own. That’s why we set up the Helpline 
and are now expanding it through the Child’s Voice Appeal - 
so people don’t have to. Together we can stop children from 
suffering and make sure they are protected. So if you are 
uncertain, don't talk yourself out of it, talk to us."

You can contact the NSPCC Helpline by phoning 0808 800 
5000 or emailing 
help@nspcc.org.uk

Over the next three years the charity plans to grow the 
Helpline and its ChildLine service through the Child’s Voice 
Appeal, so that it can protect more children. 

Short Text - for websites
The NSPCC is urging professionals working with young people 
to call their free Helpline if they are ever uncertain about a 
child’s welfare. 

You can call the Helpline on 0808 800 5000, or email: 
help@nspcc.org.uk, in confidence any time of day or night. It 
is important for any organisation working regularly with 
children and young people to have a clear child protection 
procedure to follow if a child discloses abuse but it may not 
always feel that simple.  The Helpline's advisors understand 
that staff or volunteers want to be sure they are acting in the 
best interests of the child and that it is not always easy to 
assess a child safeguarding issue. The Helpline’s trained child 
protection advisors can provide advice about the situation and 
talk you through the steps you need to take to safeguard the 
child’s welfare. 

Over the next three years the charity plans to grow the 
Helpline and its ChildLine service through the Child’s Voice 
Appeal, so that it can protect more children.