Government must do more on social care for deaf children

NDCS has today welcomed the recognition from the Government that disabled children are more vulnerable to abuse than their hearing peers, but warns that this is just a start

The Government’s response to the Laming inquiry into child protection services, The protection of children in England: action plan, highlights the need for practitioners to communicate with disabled children and be alert to their particular needs. NDCS believes this is an encouraging step in the right direction, however, more needs to be done to ensure that deaf children receive adequate protection against abuse.

Deaf children are over three times more likely to experience abuse than their hearing peers, and barriers exist to prevent the effective safeguarding of deaf children at all stages within the child protection process. Four years ago, the Government recommended that Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards (LSCBs) review their child protection arrangements for deaf children, yet NDCS is alarmed that to date few appear to have done so. In addition, recent research by the University of Manchester on the scope, delivery, and quality of social care services for deaf children in the UK shows that deaf children are largely invisible on the social care radar.

Lord Laming was asked to review progress made to implement his child protection recommendations as set out in the Victoria Climbie Report in 2003. As deaf children have specific social care needs, leaving them vulnerable to abuse, NDCS is disappointed that the Laming report and the Government response do not include any specific measures to address this issue. NDCS will continue to call for action in this area.

Deaf children’s communication needs are not commonly met allowing them fewer opportunities to acquire the information or knowledge to protect themselves than their hearing peers. They can also be specifically targeted by abusers because of the difficulties they will face in communicating to others what has happened to them. In addition, care situations increase their exposure to circumstances in which abuse could occur.

More information:

• The protection of children in England: action plan
• NDCS/NSPCC response to Child Protection Review (178 kb)
• Manchester University research in to social care for deaf children. (2429 kb)