Neglect occurs when the people looking after children persistently fail to meet a child’s basic physical and/or emotional needs, likely to result in serious harm to the child’s health or development as they grow up. Neglect may occur during pregnancy where there is substance or alcohol misuse by the mother.
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 caregivers)
- ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment
- neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
You can find additional resources and training opportunities related to Neglect at the Partnership’s MeLearning site.
If you have a concern about a child or young person’s welfare who lives in County Durham, even if you are unsure, call First Contact on 03000 267 979. When you contact us you will speak to a trained officer who can provide appropriate advice and guidance, and who will work with you to decide the level of response needed.
You can find more information about First Contact at Durham County Council’s First Contact webpage.
Types of Neglect
Physical neglect
A child's basic needs, such as food, clothing, or shelter, are not met or they aren't properly supervised or kept safe.
Educational neglect
A parent does not ensure their child is given an education.
Emotional neglect
A child does not get the nurture and stimulation they need. This could be through ignoring, humiliating, intimidating, or isolating them.
Medical neglect
A child is not given proper health care. This includes dental care and refusing or ignoring medical recommendations.
Who is at risk?
Any child can suffer neglect. But some children and young people are more at risk than others. These include children who:
- are born prematurely
- have a disability
- have complex health needs
- are seeking asylum
Other problems and life circumstances can also occur which increases the likelihood of neglect.
Children living in a home where there is
- Domestic Abuse – children are more likely to experience other types of abuse and neglect
- Alcohol and drug problems – can make it difficult for parents and carers to look after their children
- A history of abuse – a lot of people who abuse or neglect have experienced it themselves
- Parental learning disabilities/difficulties – some parents can struggle to understand what they need to do to provide proper care for their child.
- Mental health – parents and carers might struggle at certain times
- Living in poverty – housing and money worries can put stress on parents
- Lack of support from family, friends, or the wider community
Signs of Neglect
Poor appearance and hygiene
- being smelly or dirty, having unwashed clothes
- having the wrong clothing, such as no warm clothes in winter
- being hungry or not given money or access to food
- having frequent and untreated nappy rash in infants.
Health and development problems
- poor language or social skills
- body issues, such as poor muscle tone or prominent joints
- dental decay and or persistent toothache
- medical or dental issues
- repeated accidental injuries, often caused by lack of supervision
- not taken to medical appointments
- untreated injuries- medical attention not sought
- not given the correct medicines
- regular illness or infections
- anaemia
- skin issues, such as sores, rashes, flea bites, scabies or ringworm
- thin or swollen tummy
- tiredness
- weight or growth issues, this can be underweight or overweight
Housing and family issues
- living in an unsuitable home environment, such as having no heating (no water/ no electricity) or funds to pay for fuel, no beds or bedding, the home is unsafe
- being left alone for a long time
- frequent house moves
- taking on the role of carer for other family members.
Change in behaviour
- becoming clingy
- becoming aggressive
- being withdrawn, depressed or anxious
- changes in eating habits
- displaying obsessive behaviour
- finding it hard to concentrate or take part in activities
- missing school
- showing signs of self-harm
- using drugs or alcohol.
These signs are not stand-alone signs, usually there are a number of signs that would trigger a worry that a child or young person may be suffering neglect.
Impact of Neglect
Neglect changes childhood. Children who have been neglected can experience short-term and long-term effects. These can include:
- problems with brain development
- taking risks, like running away from home, using drugs and alcohol, or breaking the law
- getting into dangerous/harmful relationships
- difficulty with relationships later in life, including with their own children
- a higher chance of having mental health problems, including depression.
Types of Neglect
Physical neglect
A child's basic needs, such as food, clothing, or shelter, are not met or they aren't properly supervised or kept safe.
Educational neglect
A parent does not ensure their child is given an education.
Emotional neglect
A child does not get the nurture and stimulation they need. This could be through ignoring, humiliating, intimidating, or isolating them.
Medical neglect
A child is not given proper health care. This includes dental care and refusing or ignoring medical recommendations.
Who is at risk?
Any child can suffer neglect. But some children and young people are more at risk than others. These include children who:
- are born prematurely
- have a disability
- have complex health needs
- are seeking asylum
Other problems and life circumstances can also occur which increases the likelihood of neglect.
Children living in a home where there is
- Domestic Abuse – children are more likely to experience other types of abuse and neglect
- Alcohol and drug problems – can make it difficult for parents and carers to look after their children
- A history of abuse – a lot of people who abuse or neglect have experienced it themselves
- Parental learning disabilities/difficulties – some parents can struggle to understand what they need to do to provide proper care for their child.
- Mental health – parents and carers might struggle at certain times
- Living in poverty – housing and money worries can put stress on parents
- Lack of support from family, friends, or the wider community
Signs of Neglect
Poor appearance and hygiene
- being smelly or dirty, having unwashed clothes
- having the wrong clothing, such as no warm clothes in winter
- being hungry or not given money or access to food
- having frequent and untreated nappy rash in infants.
Health and development problems
- poor language or social skills
- body issues, such as poor muscle tone or prominent joints
- dental decay and or persistent toothache
- medical or dental issues
- repeated accidental injuries, often caused by lack of supervision
- not taken to medical appointments
- untreated injuries- medical attention not sought
- not given the correct medicines
- regular illness or infections
- anaemia
- skin issues, such as sores, rashes, flea bites, scabies or ringworm
- thin or swollen tummy
- tiredness
- weight or growth issues, this can be underweight or overweight
Housing and family issues
- living in an unsuitable home environment, such as having no heating (no water/ no electricity) or funds to pay for fuel, no beds or bedding, the home is unsafe
- being left alone for a long time
- frequent house moves
- taking on the role of carer for other family members.
Change in behaviour
- becoming clingy
- becoming aggressive
- being withdrawn, depressed or anxious
- changes in eating habits
- displaying obsessive behaviour
- finding it hard to concentrate or take part in activities
- missing school
- showing signs of self-harm
- using drugs or alcohol.
These signs are not stand-alone signs, usually there are a number of signs that would trigger a worry that a child or young person may be suffering neglect.
Impact of Neglect
Neglect changes childhood. Children who have been neglected can experience short-term and long-term effects. These can include:
- problems with brain development
- taking risks, like running away from home, using drugs and alcohol, or breaking the law
- getting into dangerous/harmful relationships
- difficulty with relationships later in life, including with their own children
- a higher chance of having mental health problems, including depression.
Neglect can happen at any time
Neglect During Pregnancy
Neglect may occur during pregnancy where there is substance or alcohol misuse by the mother.
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 caregivers)
- ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment
- neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Neglect During Adolescence
Neglect rarely just starts in adolescence. More likely, however, is that the neglected adolescent has been neglected for some considerable time (perhaps even going back to the pre-natal period) and that this neglect has either not been previously recognised or has not been addressed.
Neglect is likely to have an impact on the young person’s ability to
- form and maintain friendships and pro-social relationships,
- the young person may be more reluctant to disclose their situation if they fear becoming looked after or being split up from their siblings.
- Whilst adolescents can find sufficient food for themselves, they are likely to be drawn to the availability of high-fat, high-sugar convenience foods if they have never learned to prepare meals.
- Adolescent risk-taking behaviour may be associated with, attributed to or exacerbated by a lack of parental supervision, which can expose neglected young people to the risk of harm through, for example, alcohol and substance misuse, risk of extra familial sexual harm and or exploitation or criminal activity.
Adolescents do not grow out of being neglected. On the contrary, the impacts of their earlier difficulties are likely to worsen in adolescence.
Neglect During Pregnancy
Neglect may occur during pregnancy where there is substance or alcohol misuse by the mother.
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 caregivers)
- ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment
- neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Neglect During Adolescence
Neglect rarely just starts in adolescence. More likely, however, is that the neglected adolescent has been neglected for some considerable time (perhaps even going back to the pre-natal period) and that this neglect has either not been previously recognised or has not been addressed.
Neglect is likely to have an impact on the young person’s ability to
- form and maintain friendships and pro-social relationships,
- the young person may be more reluctant to disclose their situation if they fear becoming looked after or being split up from their siblings.
- Whilst adolescents can find sufficient food for themselves, they are likely to be drawn to the availability of high-fat, high-sugar convenience foods if they have never learned to prepare meals.
- Adolescent risk-taking behaviour may be associated with, attributed to or exacerbated by a lack of parental supervision, which can expose neglected young people to the risk of harm through, for example, alcohol and substance misuse, risk of extra familial sexual harm and or exploitation or criminal activity.
Adolescents do not grow out of being neglected. On the contrary, the impacts of their earlier difficulties are likely to worsen in adolescence.
What To Do
Intervening at the earliest opportunity
Our aim is to support children and families affected by neglect at the earliest opportunity so where the level of neglect does not reach threshold of need for statutory Children Social Care, it is imperative we mobilise effect early help. As a professional you can request support for a child and family by either:
- Contacting the Early Help Triage Workers for advice and information about services and support for children and families available in the community on 03000 267979 (listen to the options and select ‘Early Help’)
- Completing the new on-line Early Help Request Form
Practice Guidance and Tools for Assessing and Working with Neglect
- Home Environment Assessment Tool
- Graded Care Profile
- Harm/Worry Matrix (to get a clearer picture on the impact of cumulative harm)
- Signs of Safety mapping tool (to be clear where there is evidence of neglect but also what are the strengths within the family and any times when things have been better for the children)
Intervening at the earliest opportunity
Our aim is to support children and families affected by neglect at the earliest opportunity so where the level of neglect does not reach threshold of need for statutory Children Social Care, it is imperative we mobilise effect early help. As a professional you can request support for a child and family by either:
- Contacting the Early Help Triage Workers for advice and information about services and support for children and families available in the community on 03000 267979 (listen to the options and select ‘Early Help’)
- Completing the new on-line Early Help Request Form
Practice Guidance and Tools for Assessing and Working with Neglect
- Home Environment Assessment Tool
- Graded Care Profile
- Harm/Worry Matrix (to get a clearer picture on the impact of cumulative harm)
- Signs of Safety mapping tool (to be clear where there is evidence of neglect but also what are the strengths within the family and any times when things have been better for the children)