Neglect occurs when the people looking after children persistently fail to meet a child’s basic needs.A child might be left hungry or dirty, or without proper clothing, shelter, supervision or health care. This can put children and young people in danger. And it can also have long term effects on their physical and mental wellbeing.
See the NSPCC – Neglect pages for more information about neglect including the different types of neglect, the signs of neglect, effects of neglect, who’s at risk and what to do if a child reveals abuse.
Get involved 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 practitioner, you can request support for a child and family:
- Contact 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’).
- Complete the online Early Help Support Request Form.
Practice guidance and tools for assessing and working with neglect
- Home Environment Assessment Tool
- Graded Care Profile
- 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) and the Harm/Worry matrix.
- County Durham Children and Families Practice Toolkit
- A model of concurrent interventions for addressing child neglect.pdf
- Assessment of neglect.pdf
- Dental neglect.pdf
- Impact of neglect.pdf
- Impact of neglect on adolescents.pdf
- Pyramid of need.pdf
- Recognition of prenatal neglect.pdf
- Responding to neglect.pdf
- What is neglect and how do we recognise it.pdf
- GCP2 Graded Care Profile for Parents.pdf
- GCP2 Information for Young People.pdf
Resources and training opportunities
You can find additional resources and training opportunities related to Neglect at the Partnership’s MeLearning site.
Worried about a child
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 on Durham County Council’s First Contact webpage.