Neglect

Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child's basic needs and is the most frequently identified form of child abuse. Examples of neglect might include a child being persistently left hungry or dirty, or without proper clothing, shelter, supervision or health care. 

Parents and carers will all at some point have one-off incidences of not doing something or not providing something for their child, things that ideally should have occurred. Family life and events are not always predictable or controllable, and no one is perfect. However, we often intervene too slowly with neglect, sometimes because no single incident acts as a trigger. At other times, referrals are made to other agencies and perhaps are not taken sufficiently seriously.

The 2023-2024 Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel Annual Report found that in 39% of cases reviewed, the child had neglect present in their lives prior to the significant incident. In the same report, death from extreme neglect was found to be the likely cause in 5% of fatal incidents and 14.4% of serious harm incidents were categorised as non-fatal neglect.

Neglect is one of the most difficult forms of abuse to recognise because there is often no single standout indicator and so professionals need to be vigilant to patterns which build up over time.  Maintaining a chronology of concerns and understanding the cumulative impact of several different indicators is therefore key.

Neglect can have a serious and long-term impact on the child. Children who suffer neglect may also suffer from other forms of abuse as well.

Statistics compiled by the NSPCC showed that over half of all children who have child protection plans in England have them because of concerns about neglect, and that 1-in-10 children will have experienced neglect during their childhood – this amounts to potentially 3 children in every class of 30. 

In 2024/25, almost 18,000 contacts about child neglect were received to the NSPCC Helpline, making child neglect the most common reason why adults sought help for a child.

Neglect can include:

• educational/developmental – not ensuring the child receives/attends appropriate education or the stimulation needed to learn and develop. 
• physical – failure to provide for basic needs e.g., food, shelter, safety (including exclusion from home or abandonment) and/or failing to provide adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate carers). Physical neglect may also occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance misuse.
• emotional – failure to nurture, protect from emotional harm and/or provide the encouragement a child needs. This overlaps with emotional abuse and may involve ignoring, intimidating, isolating or humiliating the child.
• medical – a failure to ensure a child receives appropriate medical care and treatment, including dental care, or ignoring medical advice. It includes the failure of the parent/carer to take their child to appointments.
• adolescent – the failure to provide adequate parenting and support for teenagers resulting in them being left to deal with issues by themselves (e.g., sourcing clothing and food, finding shelter, dealing with emotions, levels of supervision and general well-being).

Any child can experience neglect, but some groups of children may be made more vulnerable, such as those:

• with parents/carers out of the house for prolonged periods
• with parents/carers who experienced neglect in their own childhoods
• with parents/carers who might distrust professional services and support or be unsure of where support can be found
• whose families are experiencing high levels of distress, including issues such as domestic abuse 
• living in poverty/housing insecurity
• with parents/carers experiencing substance/alcohol misuse issues
• with parents/carers experiencing mental health issues or with disabilities
• with disabilities
• being left on their own for prolonged periods or being left in the care of siblings or unsuitable carers

Sometimes neglect occurs because parents/carers won’t look after their children and sometimes because they are unable to. Many families endure difficult situations. The cost-of-living crisis has made this worse, with parents unable to provide the essentials such as food and heating. Many parents and carers feel the need to work longer hours, some leaving children with inadequate supervision because they cannot afford additional or suitable childcare. 

Whilst families may not be deliberately neglecting the needs of their children, intervention is still necessary to prevent either short-term or long-term harm.

When working with parents and carers, practitioners should prioritise a child-centred approach, fostering partnerships to ensure understanding, support and safety. 

Remember: 

• Collaborative efforts are crucial, especially in cases of suspected harm. 
• Practitioners must engage effectively with diverse families, demonstrating empathy, respect and cultural awareness. 
• Communication should be clear, inclusive and accessible. Encouraging parental/carer involvement in decision-making and valuing their input is essential. 
• Involving families and communities in designing processes fosters a holistic approach to safeguarding children. 
• Continuous reflection and adaptation based on feedback from parents and carers enhance practice effectiveness. 
• Have you considered if:
  * the setting has inclusive ways for students and families to speak about homelife, so that early opportunities to support can be identified, discussed and supported?
  * the signposting and information regarding parenting advice, income and housing support is accessible to all families, with consideration given to language, literacy, learning needs?
  * the setting always offers practical assistance to families impacted by poverty and homelessness, where possible? This might be things like donated items to support hygiene and nutrition, clothing or space and time on site for students to complete their homework.