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We provide advice to parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and kinship carers who are involved with children’s services in England or need their help. We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.

Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.

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To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). For Textphone dial 18001 followed by the advice line number. Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.

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Neglect

Under 1 minute read

Neglect can affect children of any age. Government statutory guidance explains that neglect is:

‘The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic needs, to the extent that it has a serious effect on the child’s health or development. This can be either the child’s physical or psychological needs’

(see Working Together 2018 (see page 108 at Appendix A).

Signs that a child’s basic needs are not being met may include them:

  • Being hungry, undernourished or underweight
  • Having poor hygiene or unclean clothing
  • Not being supervised properly. This can include a child being left in the care of someone who is not suitable to care for them
  • Being ignored and not being given the stimulation they need
  • Not being taken to the doctor or dentist.

Understanding neglect and getting help and support

What may lead to a child’s basic needs not being met?

There are different situations which may lead to this. And not every case in which basic needs are not met will amount to neglect.  Read on for some examples of situations a family may be facing when a child’s basic needs go unmet.

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What help may be available to a family struggling to meet their child’s basic needs?

Most families, including those affected by mental ill-health, will need some help to bring up their children. This may come from family and friends. Some families may need help and support from local agencies. Education (schools, nurseries), housing, and health services are all examples of agencies. And some children and families may need extra help from children’s services.

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Neglect and child protection

Will a child protection process begin if there are concerns a child is being neglected?

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What if children’s services think a child is being neglected and is unsafe at home?

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