Sussex Police has joined forces with local authorities and the NSPCC to promote safeguarding children through lockdown
Safeguarding partnerships across Sussex are asking workers with access to people’s homes to help spot possible child abuse and neglect this lockdown.
Local authorities and police across Sussex have joined forces with the NSPCC to encourage workers to take free training to help protect children from abuse as the country enters another lockdown.
During the pandemic, children and young people have spent much more time at home and behind closed doors, meaning that some children have been at a greater risk of abuse and neglect.
The NSPCC has found that concerns about child abuse have soared since national lockdown measures were first introduced – with the average monthly number of referrals from the charity’s helpline to local authorities on the issue increasing by 81% in the South East.
The NSPCC Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnerships in West Sussex, East Sussex, Brighton & Hove and Sussex Police have united to promote safeguarding children awareness training for workers who regularly go into people’s homes, such as gas engineers, taxi drivers and local authority workers. They are telling people in Sussex, if they see something, say something.
Detective Superintendent Jon Hull of Sussex Police, speaking on behalf of Community Safety Partnerships across Sussex said: “Right now we know that some children in Sussex and nationally are at an increased risk of abuse including sexual abuse, neglect and domestic violence.
“People who work within their community can play an important role in helping keep children safe and spotting possible signs of child abuse, neglect and domestic violence.
“If you are still working with members of the public, taking the NSPCC’s free, quick training course could mean a child does not have to suffer needlessly during this lockdown. If you see something, say something.”
The NSPCC’s 15-minute interactive e-learning course, ‘It’s your call’ will help workers to:
- recognise the signs of possible child abuse and neglect
- report concerns either through your work channels, the NSPCC helpline or, if the concern is urgent, the police
- support those who may have already witnessed signs of child abuse and provide advice
The training is currently free until 31st March, 2021, aimed at Postal workers, delivery drivers and workers who regularly visit homes such as housing maintenance staff who are well placed to spot any emerging safeguarding concerns or signs of possible abuse and neglect.
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