Workers who visit family homes have a unique insight into the lives and experiences of children - and with this an opportunity to help protect those who may not be receiving the care and support they need.
At the NSPCC we always say safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. Half a million children suffer abuse and neglect a year in the UK1. Last year, the NSPCC Helpline received over 75,000 contacts from adults across the UK concerned about the welfare of a child2.
When the UK’s Gas Distribution Networks (GDN) heard this, they took the bold and proactive step to provide our safeguarding training to the gas engineers who work for Cadent Gas, Northern Gas Network, SGN and Wales & West Utilities.
It’s your call is a 15-minute training package that helps workers who visit homes recognise signs of abuse and neglect through videos and interactive scenarios. The training helps workers seek appropriate support by contacting the NSPCC Helpline. The training has given GDN employees safeguarding knowledge and confidence to help support vulnerable families and children in their communities.
GDN workers across Britain have taken the training with extremely positive feedback.
“This has been the most insightful training we’ve received in years, thank you!” - elearning participant
“By working together and sharing our resources, experience and expertise we can create a real force for good, giving our engineers, staff and sub-contractors across the country the knowledge and confidence they need to help support vulnerable families and children in their communities. We visit thousands of homes every day, and thanks to this partnership we can help identify children at risk of neglect or abuse and ensure our workers know how to help them get the support they need as soon as possible.” - Phil Burrows, Head of Customer Vulnerability, Cadent Gas
The project, funded by the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VMCA), has allowed GDNs to work with partners, charities and organisations to support customers in vulnerable situations. NSPCC Learning training and consultancy teams have worked alongside GDNs to offer valuable and insightful training packages for their workers.
By working together and sharing knowledge, NSPCC and GDNs are ensuring that children across Britain are being kept safe by training thousands of employees and sub-contractors. Every pound invested helps the NSPCC fight for every childhood – protecting children from abuse and neglect.
Start your safeguarding journey today
Contact us at learning@nspcc.org.uk where we can work in partnership with you with our range of expertly developed training courses so we can protect even more children.
References
Radford, L. et al (2011) Child abuse and neglect in the UK today. London: NSPCC.The NSPCC’s Helpline responded to 75,609 contacts in 2023/24, from people who were concerned about a child’s welfare.
