4. Leadership & Management

Neglect

Neglect 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. 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 It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs. NOTE: Please ensure that staff also have an understanding of educational neglect, and how exploitation can occur in a range of forms uniquely or cross types such as criminal, sexual, emotional exploitation. Indicators of abuse Neglect - The nature of neglect Neglect is a lack of parental care but poverty and lack of information or adequate services can be contributory factors. Far more children are registered to the category of neglect on child protection plans than to the other categories. As with abuse, the number of children experiencing neglect is likely to be much higher than the numbers on the plans. Neglect can include parents or carers failing to: • provide adequate food, clothing and shelter • protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger • ensure adequate supervision or stimulation • ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. (It can also include failure to support the child’s educational development e.g. education neglect from parents/carers. Professional or organisations) NSPCC research has highlighted the following examples of the neglect of children under 12: • frequently going hungry • frequently having to go to school in dirty clothes • regularly having to look after themselves because of parents being away or having problems such as drug or alcohol misuse • being abandoned or deserted • living at home in dangerous physical conditions • not being taken to the doctor when ill • not receiving dental care. In addition to these factors SCC has also defined “Educational neglect” and produced guidance for practitioners that should be considered (Young Southampton – safeguarding local guidance)

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