NSPCC launches General Election campaign to protect children

NSPCC launches General Election campaign to protect children

Press Releases

08 March 2010

The NSPCC is today calling on parliamentary candidates to stand for children and throw their weight behind a new law to ensure social workers see at-risk children alone. (1)

The law is part of a package of vital child protection reforms the Society wants introduced after the general election.

The charity's 'I stand for children' campaign aims to make child protection a priority for the next Government so more tragic cases of abuse can be avoided.

Diana Sutton, head of the public affairs and campaigns unit at the NSPCC, said: "We need to make sure that the next elected Government keeps child protection high on its list of priorities.

And the public can play their role by letting the politicians know what they want done."

Ofsted (2) has found that when children are killed or seriously injured, the most significant failure involved professionals not seeing or speaking to children. The report also found that too often they took the word of parents at face value without considering the effects on the child.

Diana Sutton continued: "A change in the law would emphasise to everyone involved that the child must be seen and heard when concerns are raised. This would help professionals deal with uncooperative, manipulative or hostile parents who try to hide evidence of child abuse or neglect."

The NSPCC's campaign is also calling on candidates to commit to other child protection measures including:

* A better resourced child protection system and ensuring it is protected from cuts.

* Better protection for children living with domestic violence.

* More therapeutic services for children who have experienced abuse.

* Continued government funding of helplines for children and for adults concerned about a child.



Voters can lobby their parliamentary candidates at the NSPCC's campaign website: http://www.istandforchildren.com

Ends
Media office on 020 7825 2533. Out of hours mobile 07976 206 625.
Notes to editors:

(1) To amend the Children Act 2004 to introduce a statutory duty to ensure that when any child who is the subject of an investigation under section 47 of the Children Act 1989; or a child protection plan agreed by the Local Safeguarding Children Board is visited by his or her key worker, the child shall if practicable and reasonable in the circumstances, be seen separately from his or her parent or care-giver. This law only applies to England.

(2) 'This is possibly the single most significant practice failing throughout the majority of the serious case reviews - the failure of all professionals to see the situation from the child's perspective and experience; to see and speak to the children; to listen to what they said, to observe how they were and to take serious account of their views in supporting their needs.' Ofsted (2008). Learning lessons, taking action: Ofsted's evaluations of serious case reviews 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008.

About the NSPCC

The NSPCC is the UK's leading children's charity specialising in child protection and its vision is to end cruelty to children. The NSPCC runs projects and services across the United Kingdom and Channel Islands, including ChildLine, the UK's free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people and the NSPCC Helpline for adults concerned about the safety of a child. It helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/whatwedo/mediacentre/pressreleases/2010_08_March_NSPCC_launches_General_Election_campaign_to_protect_children_wdn74045.html

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