The Post: NSPCC helpline manager for Northern Ireland
The Post Holder: David Burns
After spending three decades in the police service David Burns wanted to use his experience to help protect vulnerable children.
HOW I BECAME A NSPCC HELPLINE MANAGER
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I spent 30 years in the police, first joining up when I was 19. I left the force when I was 49 and then I went straight into the NSPCC’s adult helpline. The helpline, which is open 24/7, is a place where adults can contact us by phone or online to get advice or share their concerns about a child, anonymously if they wish.
It’s staffed by professional practitioners with backgrounds in jobs like teaching, healthcare and social work, who know how to spot the signs of abuse and what to do to help. Parents and carers often have lots of questions, such as what is the right age to leave a child home alone, what to do about bullying or how to keep their children safe online.
Professionals such as teachers and doctors also contact us for information and guidance. Our helpline staff will provide expert advice and support.
What was your favourite subject at school?
My favourite subject was history. The work we did around the First World War was very moving and I still listen to Elton John’s ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ today which brings back memories of this time in my life.
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so what did you study and where?
Having joined the police directly after school, I always felt that I hadn’t achieved my potential. I believed I was capable of getting a degree and wanted to get a qualification to help me get another job when I left the police. At the age of 48 I enrolled at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown to study for a degree in Business Practice. I was lucky enough to be taught by the very inspirational Joy Taylor, a lecturer who excelled in guiding mature students through a very difficult course. I got a distinction and this has helped me in my daily work managing staff in the NSPCC.
How did you get into your area of work?
During my time with the police I started working with sex offenders and I found this challenging but rewarding. At the same time I was asked to take on a group of officers to investigate child abuse. I have spoken to many people who say ‘How did you do that? How can you talk to people who have abused children and then talk to those children who have been abused?’ The honest answer is that I talked to children to convict the abusers and then when the abusers came out of jail I worked with them to prevent further abuse – it is so important to try to prevent reoffending. It was this vital experience, together with my degree, which meant I could take up the post with NSPCC Northern Ireland.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
I didn’t plan this career path but I always knew how important it was to protect children. I have a wonderful team in Belfast who are committed and passionate and they work day and night to protect children. To be honest, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else now.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
During my time in the police, I was selected to go to Croatia and train police officers, social workers and the judiciary in child protection issues. They were entering the European Union and were committed to improving their knowledge, training and policies. We advised them about child abuse, how best to interview children and how obtain the best evidence. We also guided them on setting up sex offender monitoring units. This was the sort of experience that put me in an unique position to head up the NSPCC helpline that opened in Northern Ireland in 2014.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
For the NSPCC Helpline it is absolutely essential to have had experience in child protection. Having said that, we have people working with us that come from all walks of life. On my team we have social workers, family support workers, Women’s Aid activists, police officers and counsellors. Right now the NSPCC is in the middle of expanding the helpline, creating seven new roles in our Belfast base which will almost double the size of my local team.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
You need to know about child protection, to be caring and empathetic, and you have be a good listener.
What does a typical day entail?
We deal with calls and emails from all over the UK. We can be talking about female genital mutilation, abuse in football, child sexual exploitation or any aspect of child abuse. It’s a very varied day with lots of pressure but I have a great team and we talk together a lot and when appropriate there’s a bit of craic. Increasing our team in Belfast will mean that bit more time for us to deal with local calls and for local callers to be able to get advice and support from a Northern Irish practitioner.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
Referrals from the local NSPCC helpline to police and social services have increased by 40% over the last five years. The best times are when you have helped a child and you know they are safe and you have made a difference. Some of the most difficult times have been when adults have contacted us who have been abused when they were children but have never talked about it until that moment.
Why is what you do important?
To protect and safeguard children must be the most important aspect in anyone’s life. But to do it day and daily is a privilege.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
It is difficult but very rewarding. Try out voluntary work first – I would suggest Childline.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
Travel around the world – the next trip is with my wife and friends celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary. We are going on a cruise around the Med calling in to Croatia, Italy and France.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Listen to people around you. They usually know better than you.
Describe your ideal day off.
I would have a lie in, breakfast, then take my two cocker spaniels for a walk along the Loughshore. Then I would drop in for a coffee and come home and watch Arsenal winning.