New ways to help children who are being abused?

[Maytodecember]

Reading the thread about the murder of Sebastian Kalinowski it’s obvious that current ways of reporting often ( not always) fail. SS have a threshold of reporting that allows them to act and a parent or step parent appearing to be charming shuts them down.
So we need new ways to help children. And help a parent who is caught up in the abuse and wants away out.
My thoughts so far: An induction day for children joining a school at any point, includes a video in their home language showing points of contact in the school. If they cannot voice the abuse a coloured card can be placed on a desk or handed to a staff member. That acts as the child being removed to a safe room in the school and safeguarding kicks in. Same as the “ ask for Ani” in a pharmacy. There could also be instruction on using “Ani” outside the school.

Induction video for parents? Though unsure of this triggering abusive adults to threaten more.

ideas, views, please. There have to be better ways to protect children —- I’m thinking of school children as that’s more my experience range but obviously under 5s too.
I’m hoping Tracy Brabin will see this thread but if there are viable ideas I intend sending them to her. She seems to be a doer rather than a self promoter.

I started a thread on this because I was so upset about poor Sebastian.

I think the idea of an induction video at school with contacts is good and the “ ask for ani” idea that is used for women could be adapted for use by children as well. I guess some children will be fearful of reprisals for reporting abuse or actually they may not recognise it as abuse or think its normal or they deserve it? I know some schools visit their new children at home which I think should be mandatory.

What about having a national anonymous reporting telephone line solely for reporting concerns about children. Lots of people don’t know who to turn to if they’re worried about a child or are fearful of getting involved. If it was something very well-known like Childline for instance making it easier for people to report concerns I’ m sure people would use it.

I think children under five are also at a massive risk as they are not going to school. My son is nearly 15 but when I was a single mum and he was a baby I wondered who is checking up to see whether he is being looked after? I used to take him to the clinic to be weighed but I didn’t have to do that. Who would’ve followed up if I hadn’t gone to see the health visitor/doctor for his jabs etc? He was obviously looked after (he is my sunshine) but how would anyone have known that?!

I think a lot of the issue is that children living in those conditions grow up thinking it’s normal so they don’t see the scale of the problem so wouldn’t say anything. They also often have a sense of loyalty towards their guardians even if they don’t deserve it.

I think we need to look at information sharing so you don’t end up with a few people with low level concerns but nothing to bring them all together for the bigger picture.

We need to discuss these things at home and in schools so children know they can talk to someone if a friend says something to them they are uncomfy with.

in a lot of ways it’s back to the old “it takes a village” adage and we need to stop being scared to raise concerns