Helpline highlight: how the NSPCC protects babies Contacts to the NSPCC helpline
This report looks at the key concerns people who called the NSPCC between April and June 2011 had about babies.
Part of the Helpline highlight series.
Author: Richards Woods
Published: 2011
- Between April and June 2011, 851 people contacted the NSPCC's helpline service with concerns about a baby.
- Almost three quarters (74%) of all calls about children under one led to a referral to the police or children's services.
- 44% of people who contacted us about a child under one, were worried the child was being neglected.
- In over half (55%) of all calls that resulted in a referral, the caller said they had heard or seen the child in distress.
- Nearly two thirds (60%) of referrals involved either parental substance misuse, domestic abuse or concerns about the parent's mental health.
- One in three referrals for neglect also featured some form of emotional abuse, physical abuse or both.
| The vulnerability of babies | 3 |
| Janice's story | 6 |
| Kai and Milly's story | 8 |
| Risk factors | 10 |
| How we help | 14 |
| Conclusion | 14 |
| Bibliography | 15 |
| Appendix | 16 |
| Methodology | 18 |
Helpline highlight series
Helpline highlights is a series of reports looking at why people contact the NSPCC helpline and how we help.
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All Babies Count: prevention and protection for vulnerable babies
Helpline highlight 2012/13: more people speaking out to protect children
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