Worries about increase of child abuse during lockdown - and how you can report any concerns

As the world moved into unprecedented times, the regional branch of the national charity sprang into action, adapting working practices to ensure the support needed could still be accessed throughout South Yorkshire.

“Lockdown has - for some - triggered flashbacks of trauma, and fostered feelings of being trapped or isolated,” says Karen.

“For foster carers and their children, lockdown has also presented new problems or made underlying tensions come to the fore.

“With all this going on, it was vital for my team and I to still be there for children and their families when they needed us.”

Karen explains she and her team began making swift adaptations, including moving from face-to-face sessions to online contact, and quickly shifting gear to virtual meetings and weekly check-in.

Karen says: “Our practitioners have worked closely with children and parents to design tools especially to help children to progress during very unstable circumstances.

“For some of our children and their families this continuity of support was vital not just for dealing with past traumas, but also for reassurance and a calming influence in these times of great anxiety and concern.”

Karen’s words come as a new survey has revealed public concerns about the heightened risks of child abuse during the coronavirus pandemic, with a quarter of adults stating they would be unsure where to go for advice about suspected incidents.

There is growing concern for the safety of vulnerable children, particularly as teachers and social workers have limited access to them, with many not taking up the places at school allocated to them.

The Local Government Association has already reported that councils are seeing up to a 50 per cent decline in social care referrals of children who are at risk.

Kam Thandi, head of NSPCC Helpline, said: “It is terrible to think that cases of child abuse and neglect may be going unreported because people don’t know where to go to for help and advice.

“At the moment, we’re increasingly reliant on the public to come forward with their concerns and if reports drop we fear abusers will have free reign to harm children, both physically and emotionally.

“Even if you are not 100 per cent sure, we urge any adult who is worried for the safety or wellbeing of a child to contact our helpline.

“We can answer any questions and concerns, provide reassurance or importantly take quick action if we feel a child is in danger.”

Spotting the signs of abuse or neglect may be more difficult in the present climate, but the NSPCC states that indicators can include aggressive or repeated shouting, hearing hitting or things being broken, children crying for long periods of time, and being withdrawn or anxious.

The NSPCC Helpline is available for advice and support on 0808 800 5000.

If you suspect a child or young person is in immediate danger call the police immediately on 999.

Alternatively, visit Sheffield City Council’s social care team HERE.