NSPCC introduces a new service for deaf and hard of hearing adults

As part of the NSPCC’s Helpline for adults who are concerned about the welfare of a child or young person, the children’s charity has 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 as it launches its Child’s Voice Appeal to develop and expand its helpline services. The appeal aims to raise £50 million over the next three years to continue to run and develop the services provided by ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline for adults.

The NSPCC Helpline is a 24-hour service with the majority of calls coming from adults concerned about the welfare of a child, including concerns about abuse or neglect.

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, uses video conferencing technology to relay callers’ concerns to the 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. 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. Practitioners 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 for the NSPCC Helpline commented: “Last year, counsellors on the NSPCC Helpline took calls from 1331 worried adults in Leicestershire. 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 the NSPCC Helpline visit www.nspcc.org.uk or email helpline@nspcc.org.uk. For further information about the Child’s Voice Appeal visit www.childsvoiceappeal.org.uk.

DZ contacted NSPCC about alternative methods of contacts e.g. by mobile. NSPCC replies:- ‘Our Child’s Voice Appeal aims to develop and expand both our NSPCC Helpline for adults, and our ChildLine service for children and young people. This expansion will eventually allow people to contact us via SMS and we’ll be able to offer real-time counselling online.’

Registered charity numbers 216401 and SC037717

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