Cumulative harm is the build-up of harm caused by episodes of abuse, neglect and other harmful or adverse circumstances or occurrences experienced by a child or young person over a short, medium or long time.
This can include emotional, physical and psychological harm that is caused by the lack of care and or by the behaviour of parents, carers, other adults, children and young people. It can also be caused by accident and the loss of relationships and changes to primary carers.