NSPCC introduce a new service for deaf and hard of hearing adults.
As part of the helpline for adults who are concerned about the welfare of a child or young person the NSPCC have commissioned Sign Video to introduce a new service for deaf and hard of hearing adults.
This new service comes at a time of real significance for the NSPCC helplines. The ‘Child’s Voice’ appeal, a major new appeal for funds to develop the helplines, aims to raise £50million over the next three years to continue to run and develop the services provided by ChildLine and the NSPCC helpline for adults. The adult helpline is a 24 hour service that covers England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The majority of calls come from adults concerned about the welfare of a child, including concerns that a child may be being abused or neglected.
Anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing and is worried about a child or needs advice can contact the Helpline through qualified British Sign Language interpreters. The NSPCC BSL Helpline, which is available Monday – Friday between 9:00am and 5:00pm, use video conferencing technology to relay the callers concerns to the helpline practitioners. Worried adults can call via ISDN videophone on: 020 8463 1148 or online via IP videophone or web cam to: nspcc.signvideo.tv.
All counsellors at the Helpline are fully trained in child protection and have counselling experience. They have working familiarity with all aspects of child protection procedures, legal issues and responding to child protection concerns. Our staff receive ongoing training, supervision and support around child protection issues and telephone counselling.
The Helpline receives a wide range of general requests for information, advice and counselling. We help callers by identifying what actions they can take to deal with problems they might be experiencing, as well as by providing information about local advice and support groups.
All calls to the Helpline are confidential, except in a situation where a child is at risk and can be identified by information given.
Alison Houghton, assistant director NSPCC helpline commented: “Last year, counsellors on the NSPCC helpline took calls from approximately 2,405 worried adults in Northern Ireland. The introduction of the new BSL service will enable us to answer even more calls from adults who are worried about a child. Some children and young people are unable to speak out for themselves and we need to encourage adults to speak out for them. The support and advice we are able to give calms fears, solves problems – and even saves lives.”
For further information on NSPCC Helpline visit www.nspcc.org.uk or email helpline@nspcc.org.uk. For further information the ‘Child’s Voice’ appeal visit www.childsvoiceappeal.org.uk.
