Child Neglect: what to look for and what to do

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic and essential needs. Children need adequate food, water, shelter, warmth, protection and health care and they need their carers to be attentive, dependable and kind.

Nearly 1 in 10 children are neglected by their parents, causing serious and long-term damage. There are many signs that may indicate neglect.

If your instincts tell you that something is wrong then you should take action.

Why are children neglected?

There are many reasons why child neglect happens. Some adults:

• find it difficult to organise their lives, leading to a chaotic home life for children

• do not understand the needs of their children, possibly because they did not receive adequate parenting themselves

• find it difficult to show their feelings, neglecting their child’s emotional needs

Children at risk of neglect

Some children are more vulnerable to neglect, such as children who are in care, seeking asylum or who live in families with cases of domestic abuse, drug or alcohol misuse or with parents with mental health problems.

What you should do

None of the signs outlined here would indicate for certain that a child is being neglected – busy family homes are often untidy or in need of a vacuum; children get nits and their clothes become dirty. But children who are severely and persistently neglected may be in danger.

If you think a child is in immediate danger Contact the police on 999, or Children’s Triage

If you’re worried about a child, but unsure
Deciding if a child is neglected can be very hard – even for a trained social worker – and it’s natural to worry that you may be mistaken.

Some parents and carers simply need more resources and support to properly care for their children, but some have more complex problems. In both cases they need help from professionals.