Baby P - NSPCC Campaign Action Group to protect all children: The NSPCC's Wes Cuell answers questions on child protection in the UK
The NSPCC's Wes Cuell answers questions on child protection in the UK
Erin Norman, a blogger from the Independent Mind’s community, recently sent us a series of questions about the impact of the Baby Peter case on child protection in the UK. Below you can read the full Q&A between Erin Norman and Wes Cuell, NSPCC director of services for children and young people:
Q. Do you feel the wide media coverage of the Baby Peter case will prove to be helpful to your organisation, and indeed others who work to stop child abuse in our society?
A. The brutal torture and death of Baby Peter was terrible but we know it was a wake-up call for some people to look out for children. We know that more people are calling the NSPCC Helpline about serious child abuse since the death of Baby Peter two years ago. It’s encouraging that so many people are now taking responsibility for stopping this abuse and that it's becoming more and more difficult for the abusers to hide their crimes.
In addition we have had an amazing response from people wanting to give to our ongoing Child's Voice Appeal to expand our helpline services. Four of those taking part in the One and Other exhibition dedicated their chosen hour on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth to raising awareness of the NSPCC Helpline and ChildLine. We have also had many messages from our supporters on Facebook.
Q. We know of what happened to Peter largely because he was ultimately murdered – are there many children in the UK who are still living in circumstances as extreme as his were?
A. Baby Peter's death was one of the most heinous crimes against small children we have ever seen. But tragically it is not unique. A child under five is killed by a parent or carer at least once every ten days and at any one time there are around 30,000 children on protection registers in the UK. Last year over 20,000 sex crimes against children were reported to police.
Q. What is the one thing you would implore us, as individuals in society, to do to make the greatest difference?
A. The NSPCC is urging everyone to save its Helpline number - 0808 800 5000 – to their phone and to call if they suspect a child is at risk of harm. We all must do everything in our power to stop more children dying in such horrific ways. One simple step is to make a note of our Helpline number and call immediately anyone has concerns about a child.
Q. What can the government do to make things run more efficiently on the front lines of child welfare?
A. The Government must carry through its commitment to keep every child safe from harm by fully funding and implementing real change nationally and locally. It needs to work with local agencies to get experienced professionals back into the workforce and restore public confidence in them.
The challenge now is to equip front-line professionals, their managers and political leaders with the right skills and tools to protect England’s most vulnerable children, wherever they live. The system will not improve until we have enough resources to ensure all vulnerable children get the help they need.
The NSPCC is calling on the UK Government to collect and publish annual data from police forces showing the number and ages of sex abuse victims and to link this with the number of convictions, and other penalties, resulting from the recorded offences. This data should form the basis of a better national strategy to prevent abuse and develop local services for sexually abused children.
Q. What, in society, is counter-productive to improving child welfare? What societal norms are causing harm?
A. One of the biggest problems we face is that it is all too common for babies and toddlers to be abused behind closed doors and out of sight. While it is difficult or impossible for very young children to speak out, neighbours, relatives and family friends can often be the eyes and ears which protect a child.
Sadly, our helpline hears heartrending stories of child cruelty every day of the week. It is often too easy to convince yourself that you are mistaken, give the benefit of the doubt or be hesitant to interfere. But if you have our Helpline number at hand you can call confidentially for advice or help at any time. If you are concerned please take decisive action now and call 0808 800 5000 and help the children who can’t help themselves.
Q. Many people complain about “chuggers” and “hard sell” tactics such as showing distressing images actually putting people off donating to charity. We seem to be in an “every man for himself” society – charities must bring money in, but individuals only have so much to give, and may resent being hassled and made to feel guilty. How can we all work together, so that you are supported in your very worthwhile work without alienating those who are in a position to help?
A. Thousands of people don’t mind being stopped on the street, but to some it can be irritating, especially if they are in a hurry. However, the bottom line is that the more people they can talk to, the more children we can help. These are tough economic times and we know this is affecting people’s ability to donate.
We rely on voluntary donations for 87 per cent of our income. We work with very tight budgets and we ensure that every penny we spend on fundraising is spent with good reason. We are constantly assessing every method of fundraising, and for every £1 we invest in fundraising, we raise over £4 for our work to end cruelty to children.
We work very hard to ensure that our donors get the right amount of feedback and support and are not asked for money too often in a year. Public concern about child abuse is very high because of the widespread response to Baby P’s death and other high-profile child protection cases. We know more people are donating over the past year to protect children from cruelty.
Q. Where appropriate the authorities try to keep a child with his or her family. When that is no longer possible, foster families and adoptive families are needed. Is there enough support in the community to enable families to foster and adopt?
A. Caring for a child who has been abused will always be very challenging as well as very rewarding. The quality of support available to carers has improved enormously over recent years but many children will need expert therapeutic help, sometimes for many months, and in too many parts of the country this type of support is not available.
Q. Finally, is the task too big? Can we stop child abuse, full stop?
A. We want to see a society where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. We believe that, given the will, most abuse can be prevented. In order to achieve this, it is vital that all children, whatever their needs, have a range of services that are flexible and offer them support and protection.
Q. Do you feel the wide media coverage of the Baby Peter case will prove to be helpful to your organisation, and indeed others who work to stop child abuse in our society?
A. The brutal torture and death of Baby Peter was terrible but we know it was a wake-up call for some people to look out for children. We know that more people are calling the NSPCC Helpline about serious child abuse since the death of Baby Peter two years ago. It’s encouraging that so many people are now taking responsibility for stopping this abuse and that it's becoming more and more difficult for the abusers to hide their crimes.
In addition we have had an amazing response from people wanting to give to our ongoing Child's Voice Appeal to expand our helpline services. Four of those taking part in the One and Other exhibition dedicated their chosen hour on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth to raising awareness of the NSPCC Helpline and ChildLine. We have also had many messages from our supporters on Facebook.
Q. We know of what happened to Peter largely because he was ultimately murdered – are there many children in the UK who are still living in circumstances as extreme as his were?
A. Baby Peter's death was one of the most heinous crimes against small children we have ever seen. But tragically it is not unique. A child under five is killed by a parent or carer at least once every ten days and at any one time there are around 30,000 children on protection registers in the UK. Last year over 20,000 sex crimes against children were reported to police.
Q. What is the one thing you would implore us, as individuals in society, to do to make the greatest difference?
A. The NSPCC is urging everyone to save its Helpline number - 0808 800 5000 – to their phone and to call if they suspect a child is at risk of harm. We all must do everything in our power to stop more children dying in such horrific ways. One simple step is to make a note of our Helpline number and call immediately anyone has concerns about a child.
Q. What can the government do to make things run more efficiently on the front lines of child welfare?
A. The Government must carry through its commitment to keep every child safe from harm by fully funding and implementing real change nationally and locally. It needs to work with local agencies to get experienced professionals back into the workforce and restore public confidence in them.
The challenge now is to equip front-line professionals, their managers and political leaders with the right skills and tools to protect England’s most vulnerable children, wherever they live. The system will not improve until we have enough resources to ensure all vulnerable children get the help they need.
The NSPCC is calling on the UK Government to collect and publish annual data from police forces showing the number and ages of sex abuse victims and to link this with the number of convictions, and other penalties, resulting from the recorded offences. This data should form the basis of a better national strategy to prevent abuse and develop local services for sexually abused children.
Q. What, in society, is counter-productive to improving child welfare? What societal norms are causing harm?
A. One of the biggest problems we face is that it is all too common for babies and toddlers to be abused behind closed doors and out of sight. While it is difficult or impossible for very young children to speak out, neighbours, relatives and family friends can often be the eyes and ears which protect a child.
Sadly, our helpline hears heartrending stories of child cruelty every day of the week. It is often too easy to convince yourself that you are mistaken, give the benefit of the doubt or be hesitant to interfere. But if you have our Helpline number at hand you can call confidentially for advice or help at any time. If you are concerned please take decisive action now and call 0808 800 5000 and help the children who can’t help themselves.
Q. Many people complain about “chuggers” and “hard sell” tactics such as showing distressing images actually putting people off donating to charity. We seem to be in an “every man for himself” society – charities must bring money in, but individuals only have so much to give, and may resent being hassled and made to feel guilty. How can we all work together, so that you are supported in your very worthwhile work without alienating those who are in a position to help?
A. Thousands of people don’t mind being stopped on the street, but to some it can be irritating, especially if they are in a hurry. However, the bottom line is that the more people they can talk to, the more children we can help. These are tough economic times and we know this is affecting people’s ability to donate.
We rely on voluntary donations for 87 per cent of our income. We work with very tight budgets and we ensure that every penny we spend on fundraising is spent with good reason. We are constantly assessing every method of fundraising, and for every £1 we invest in fundraising, we raise over £4 for our work to end cruelty to children.
We work very hard to ensure that our donors get the right amount of feedback and support and are not asked for money too often in a year. Public concern about child abuse is very high because of the widespread response to Baby P’s death and other high-profile child protection cases. We know more people are donating over the past year to protect children from cruelty.
Q. Where appropriate the authorities try to keep a child with his or her family. When that is no longer possible, foster families and adoptive families are needed. Is there enough support in the community to enable families to foster and adopt?
A. Caring for a child who has been abused will always be very challenging as well as very rewarding. The quality of support available to carers has improved enormously over recent years but many children will need expert therapeutic help, sometimes for many months, and in too many parts of the country this type of support is not available.
Q. Finally, is the task too big? Can we stop child abuse, full stop?
A. We want to see a society where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. We believe that, given the will, most abuse can be prevented. In order to achieve this, it is vital that all children, whatever their needs, have a range of services that are flexible and offer them support and protection.