The ISPCC have launched a campaign called 24 hour child which calls on the government to establish a nationwide 24 hour child protection and welfare service in Ireland.
Children and families in Ireland need support and protection on a 24 hour basis. Mental Health problems and child abuse are not isolated to the hours of 9-5, Monday to Friday.
The ISPCC Childline service received 78% of calls outside the hours of 9-5, Monday to Friday. Three quarters of the child protection and welfare reports made by the ISPCC Childline service to the Gardai and Health Service Executive were as a result of calls received out of hours. These concerns included suicide, depression, physical and sexual abuse, neglect and homelessness.
We the undersigned are writing to you regarding the lack of a nationwide, 24 hour child protection and welfare service in Ireland and to ask you to support the ISPCC%u2019s 24 Hour Child Campaign.
The 24 Hour Child Campaign calls on the government to establish a nationwide 24 hour child protection and welfare service in Ireland.
A staggering 78% of calls received through our Childline service are answered outside the hours 9-5, Monday to Friday and three quarters of child protection referrals were based on calls received from children who contacted Childline out of hours. In addition, there have been a number of high profile cases in recent years which have highlighted the need for this service.
Most abuse of children does not occur conveniently within office hours but in reality occurs late in the evenings, during the night and at weekends. The lack of an %u201Cout-of-hours%u201D social work service has contributed to a number of appalling outcomes for children in recent years.
I am fully in agreement with the need for a 24 hour social work service and would appreciate it if you could let me know if you support the provision of such a service. I would be grateful if you could forward correspondence to both the ISPCC and myself.
