Neglect

This page and Practice Guidance are currently under review

Neglect is a failure to provide adequate care. Judgements have to be made as to what represents adequate and reasonable care. The Government’s definition (Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018) is:

The persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and / or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development.

The Neglect Screening Tool launched June 2018. This tool can be used by any practitioner to ascertain their level of concern and decide whether an enquiry should be made to the MASH either for Early Help advice from the Local Area Teams or advice from Children's Social Care. It may lead to an enquiry - via the MASH - to the Local Area Teams for support with an Early Help Assessment or to Children's Social Care if the child is at risk of significant harm. (Practitioners in both of these services are trained to carry out specialist Graded Care Profile assessments of neglect).

In Pregnancy, Childhood and Adolescence

Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse.

Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:

provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment)
protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger
ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers)
ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment (e.g. dental neglect can result in serious harm)
be responsive to a child's basic emotional needs

Adolescent neglect can be a deliberate act where young people may be abandoned by parents or forced to leave home. Neglect can include parents not being aware of their child’s activities outside the home; not making sure they get health care when they need it; not taking an interest in their education or failing to provide emotional support with problems or offering encouragement.

Consequences of Neglect

Child and adolescent neglect and its consequences on the future well being and development of children has increased during the last two decades and is the most common reason for child protection plans in the UK.

The consequences of neglect can include an array of health and well being problems including difficulties in forming attachments and relationships, lower educational achievements, an increased risk of substance misuse and a higher risk of experiencing abuse as well as difficulties in assuming parenting responsibilities later on in life.

The degree to which children are affected during their childhood and later life depends on the type, severity and frequency of the maltreatment and on what support mechanisms and coping strategies were available to the child.

Neglect Tools, Guides and Strategy

CYSCP Multi-agency Child Neglect Strategy

CYSCP Neglect One Minute Guide

Neglect Screening Tool for practitioners. This tool is for use by any practitioner to help consider the level of risk a child or young person might be at through assessing their individual needs via known information. It is not a full assessment of risk.