Neglect

Neglect

In this section, you can find information about where to get help and advice around children that you may have concerns about.  You might think that they are possibly being neglected.

What is neglect?

There’s a difference between the things a child wants and things they need. Some children might want a new games console. Or a new phone or the latest trainers to be like their friends.

But these aren’t the same as the things they need.

Every child needs things like enough to eat and drink.

Every child needs clothes that are clean, fit them and keep them warm and dry when the weather is bad.

Every child needs be loved and cared for and be protected from danger. 

Parents or carers should make sure a child has these things.

If a child has a disability or additional needs, they should also be supported in whatever extra ways they need to ensure that they can thrive.  To find out more about the support available, please see our page on Children with Special Educational Needs (SEND).

You might know a child or young person who is looking after an adult or their brothers and sisters.  No child shouldn spend a lot of time looking after others in their family or friend’s network without getting any support from an adult as this can affect their education and wellbeing.  Help is available. Please see the Local Organisations and Support section below.

There can be times when a family can be experiencing problems with money and  are struggling to have a decent standard of living.  This can be confused with neglect.  It’s important to remember that being short of money can be linked to neglect however, it’s not the same thing. Being short of money can make it more difficult for parents and carers to meet their child’s needs, but despite this they do their best to provide for their children. 

Please look at the Money section of this webpage at the same time if you are worried about a child possibly experiencing neglect and money is an issue. This has useful information about the support and advice in relation to money and other things like food and fuel.  It explains what support might be available to help families when they are experiencing problems with money.

Local and national sources of support are shown below.  Many of these will show how you can get in touch if you need to talk to someone.

Remember that you can also call into one of the Community Lounges or Family Hubs who will try to help you or put you in touch with the right organisation.  You can find out where they are by clicking on the links below:

Local organisations and support in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire

If you are concerned that a child’s basic needs are not being met, you can report this to the Council: CHAD

If you know a child who might be a young carer, you can contact the team at North Staffordshire Carers: Young Carers

If you have, or know of a child with Special Needs or Disabilities, please see the information here (please add link to FH SEND page).  This includes information on the Local Offer in Stoke-on-Trent.

You can find further sources of support for families in the city by searching the Community Directory.  Please find the link to the Community Directory here: Stoke Community Directory

Links to national websites

  • Government website with a  summary of child neglect Childhood Neglect   
  • NPSCC: Anyone can contact the NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000
  • Childline: Access the webpage by clicking here Childline or call freephone 0800 1111 Text, email and chat are all available

Toolkit

All children and young people need food, clothing, warmth, love and attention, in order to grow and develop properly. Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child's basic needs and the most common form of child abuse. 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.

Neglect can include the following:

  • educational – not ensuring the child receives/attends appropriate education.
  • 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 stimulation 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).

Stoke-on Trent Safeguarding Children Partnership have developed a Neglect Strategy and Toolkit to support practitioners to identify, assess and support children suffering or at risk of harm from neglect. The aim of the strategy is to prevent drift and delay and improve outcomes for children.

See here for targeted information to support work around neglect in Stoke-on-Trent Professionals – Safeguarding (stoke.gov.uk)   This includes links for the Neglect strategy and Neglect Toolkit.

The DfE website includes useful materials.  Click here to access: DFE Neglect Training resources 

Resources from the Safeguarding Network Neglect | Safeguarding Network  

NPCC has a suite of resources, please click here to access: Neglect Professional Resources 

Information for professionals