Child neglect
Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment reported as the initial category of abuse on child protection plans. Neglect was the top main concern for child welfare contacts in 2023/4 to the NSPCC helpline. It accounted for 27% of all contacts. Government-led analysis of safeguarding reviews has found the highest number of incidents continue to relate to the youngest children (36%). But neglect is a background feature in 75% of reports, for children of all ages. (NSPCC -Too Little Too Late 2024).
East Sussex Children’s Services and East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership has developed an approach to responding to neglect. The aim is to reduce the number of children in our community who are subject to chronic neglect. This can be achieved by intervening in a planned way, at an earlier opportunity with offers of support and signposting to services.
Children spend a lot of time in educational establishments. Thus, education professionals play a fundamental role in identifying and responding to neglect.
The Neglect Toolkit provides education professionals with a wealth of information and resources to support them to identify and address neglect.
Neglect guidance for schools
Anti-poverty practice tools
Poverty is having an increasing impact on many families, ultimately affecting how children’s basic needs are being met. When using the Neglect Toolkit it is important to have a good understanding of the Anti-Poverty Practice Framework [4.4 MB] [pdf] and Anti-Poverty Practice Tool [136.2 KB] [pdf], too, ensuring that our assessments and plans are poverty-informed, and supports are provided to maximise family income and link them into community networks. We need to do as much as possible to poverty-proof our interventions (avoiding meetings over lunch time, reducing amount of travelling required to attend meetings etc).
