Reporting to NSPCC

[Gromit]

My mum's new neighbours are forever shouting, screaming and swearing at their children. It is frightening hearing what they go through everyday. I sent an email to the NSPCC and got back this:

Dear Emailer,

Thank you for your email which we received on 07.05.2012

The issues that you have raised are concerning and we feel that further investigation is required. We can make a referral to Children’s Services on your behalf, so that they can investigate the situation and take appropriate action.

However in order to do this the following information would be helpful: -


The full names and dates of birth (or approximate ages) of the children.
Details of the names and dates of birth (or approximate ages) of all other people living in the family home, including their relationship to the children.
Ethnicity of all children and adults
Details of your full concerns for the children.
When the children were last shouted/screamed at. What was said and what was the response of the children?
How often the shouting takes place and it is occurs at specific times of the day
Details of whether the parents shout at each other and if the children also witness this shouting
Any other concerns which may benefit enquiries such as the appearance of the children and the appearance of the home.
Details of the school and / or any day care attended by the children.
Details of any current or previous involvement with Children’s Services and / or any other professional agencies
Details of the family GP
Details of any learning needs or disabilities of any members of this household.
If you are willing to be contacted by a Social Worker, please also provide your name and contact details. If you are worried about the family knowing it is you that has contacted the NSPCC, a request can be made that your information remains confidential.

Understandably you may not know all this information; however, it would be of great assistance if you could forward as much detail as possible either by return email, by telephoning the NSPCC Helpline on our 24 hour free phone number 0808 800 5000 or by text to 88858.

Alternatively you can report you concerns by completing a Helpline Questionnaire via the NSPCC website, which can be found on the following link:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/Applications/Forms/HelplineConcern/the-helpline-online-form.aspx

Please be aware that when passing on information to other agencies we do have to include all the information you supply.

If you ever have immediate concerns for a child please dial 999 and ask for the police.

Kind regards

I am now feeling a bit put off with the amount of information they want. I have no idea about the names or ages of the children, just know that they are all under 11.

No wonder people are put off reporting this sort of stuff.

 

[ianrauk]

Well as they say, you may not know all the information so give the best information you can.
From what you are saying it sounds a horrible enviroment for the kids to live in.
Give the best information you can. Any help is good help.
I would give them a call and talk to them.

 

[fossyant]

Certainly call. Must be horrible to listen to. We all shout at the kids some times, but this is out of order.

 

[TVC]

You may also consider contacting Childline, they will be able to advise how to move forward.

 

[Arch]

I am now feeling a bit put off with the amount of information they want. I have no idea about the names or ages of the children, just know that they are all under 11.

No wonder people are put off reporting this sort of stuff.

As they say, just supply the info you can. If you're concerned enough to start the ball rolling, follow it through.

I can see why they would ask for as much as info as possible, if only to deter people from making idle or timewasting malicious reports.

 

[betty swollocks]

Contact your local Social Services: please.
Or your mum's.
Tomorrow.

 

[vernon]

Five or ten minutes spent responding to the request could make a lifetime's difference to the lives of the kids.

 

[The Brewer]

I'd contact the local social services, your call will be logged and acted upon.

 

[Gromit]

Have emailed them back. I'm going through a difficult time at the moment ad my mum passed away on the 27 April, we have the house to pack up and the funeral to prepare for and many more things to do. No time to morn, hopefully something will be done for these children.

 

[ColinJ]

Sorry to hear about your mum, Gromit.

It's good of you to make the time to send those emails - it was definitely the right thing to do.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Just give them what you've got - you're not an investigator and shouldn't be expected to go to any lengths to get more than that.

If you hear shouting etc again, you can always call the police and report it - anonymously if you wish. That will then cause us to go out and pay a visit, and we can get all of those details for our social services referral.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

all borough council's will have an out of hours duty social work team, as far as i'm aware it's national policy. they will respond, they have to, it's a child safeguarding issue (national policy was tightened up after the baby 'p' case). whilst the nspcc is brilliant, they're just a charity with limited powers.

and as coppercyclist says, the police can respond and get details if necessary, but only if they are allowed to enter the property or they (the responsible adults) are co-operative (obviously if a child was in immediate danger of harm the police would act). with all due respect (and no offense meant) the police may not be the right authority to contact, social services are trained to deal with these situations. the children could be put at more risk if uniforms turn up and the adults feel threatened or know they've been grassed up.

 

[swee'pea99]

I agree with the OP - this is a ridiculous and intimidating burden to place on a person who's doing all that they ought to be asked to do: voice their concern for a fellow human being.

What in God's name do the NSPCC think they're doing asking neighbours about people's ethnicity or details of GPs? Sure, they have to discourage cranks and malicious calls - but is this the way to achieve that? How? And sure, that sort of information will ultimately be needed, but it's hardly the neighbours' job to provide it.

The response should have been along the lines of the friendly advice offered by posters on this thread:

Thanks for reporting it. We'll be looking into it. If you have any reason to fear there could be any immediate danger to the children, please call 999 and ask for the Police. Please also report this to your local authority, who will ensure that any necessary action is taken to protect the children.

How come CC can do this but the NSPCC can't?

Finally, sorry to hear about your Mum, Gromit. It's good of you to be looking out for others at a time like this.

 

[dellzeqq]

it doesn't seem a lot to ask. If you're concerned, you'll do your best to help - and, as CopperCyclist says, you can only tell them what you know. If you don't want to help, why make the call in the first place?

 

[steve52]

deal direct with social servces, or if its in progress the police, its emotional abuse, but best to say you concerned for the welfare of the children if you want a responce,however its not garenteed, i work in this field as a foster carer and have seen things change over the years, i now find myself working dispite the socialservices rather than with then as we used to. i think that its to do with no one wanting to take responcibility for there actions. sad really could come up with real horror stories but as im constantly remindend im not allowed to whistle blow, unless via the depatment. go sharron shoesmith there one in every dept imo