New research from NSPCC reveals that most (83 per cent) professionals across healthcare, the police, children’s social care and education believe there are not enough services available to provide support for children experiencing neglect. Professionals report that the current response is ‘inadequate and slow’.

The report – Too little, too late, the multi-agency response to identifying and tackling neglect – also shows that in 2023/2024, neglect was once again the top concern reported to the NSPCC Helpline:

• 20,571 contacts were made by adults worried about the wellbeing of a child and
• almost half of these contacts (47 per cent) led to a referral being sent to a local agency.

The new report, which included YouGov polling of 700 professionals working across healthcare, the police, children’s social care and education, also found that:

• 54 per cent of professionals polled said they had seen an increase in neglect cases during their professional life. Of those who saw an increase, 90 per cent said the rising cost of living and poverty rates was a driving factor and 76 per cent said a reduction in community support to parents was a key factor.
• Around one in five healthcare workers (18 per cent) and teachers (22 per cent) said they were not very confident about deciding when concerns about neglect should be referred to children’s social care.
• Over three in five police officers (62 per cent) and half of teachers (52 per cent) polled said they thought children’s social care responded slowly to a neglect referral with the appropriate assessment.
• Only 44 per cent of all professionals polled said they felt it was usually within their power to directly help a child who was being neglected.
• 56 per cent of healthcare professionals, police and teachers said they are never or rarely informed of follow up action after a neglect referral is made.
• Less than 5 per cent of teachers and police said they felt that appropriate action following a neglect referral was always taken.

NSPCC is calling for a national strategy for England to tackle child neglect.  The charity believes that the UK government:

• must focus urgently on tackling neglect as it pushes forward reforms to children’s social care and improvements to multiagency working in England through the upcoming Children’s Wellbeing Bill
• needs to make sure neglect is considered as part of its plans to tackle child poverty and
• should set out proposals for making education the fourth statutory safeguarding partner.

For the report, click here.

News Editor: Martin West

29/8/24