👶 Child Neglect

⚖️ WT2026 Definition & Types

Working Together 2026: Persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development.

• Physical neglect — failing to provide food, clothing, warmth, supervision or medical care
• Educational neglect — failing to ensure access to education
• Emotional neglect — failing to provide love, emotional stimulation, or stability
• Medical neglect — failing to seek medical treatment for illness or injury
• Supervisory neglect — leaving a child alone or with inappropriate carers

⚠️ Signs — Early Years (0–5)

• Poor weight gain, failure to thrive
• Frequently dirty, smelly, or inadequately dressed for weather
• Untreated nappy rash, skin conditions, tooth decay
• Persistent hunger — foraging for food
• Delayed developmental milestones
• Appearing lethargic, withdrawn, or unresponsive
• Missed routine health checks, vaccinations, dental appointments
• Parent/carer appears detached, unresponsive, or intoxicated

⚠️ Signs — School Age (5–16)

• Coming to school hungry, tired, or in dirty clothes
• No packed lunch / no dinner money repeatedly
• Stealing food from other children
• Persistent poor attendance or lateness
• Untreated health/dental problems
• No coat, uniform too small, or inappropriate footwear
• Isolated from peers; low self-esteem
• Taking on adult responsibilities for younger siblings

🔁 Cumulative Harm

Cumulative harm — the combined impact of multiple neglect incidents over time, even if individually minor, can cause serious and lasting developmental damage.

• Consider the whole pattern — not just isolated incidents
• Chronologies are essential — record and review over time
• Ask: "What is the lived experience of this child day to day?"
• Apply the Child's World assessment framework
• Don't be reassured by improvements — look for sustained change
• Disguised compliance is common — continue visiting and challenging

📋 Threshold & Referral

Decision framework (WT2026):

• Early Help — child has additional needs; refer to CAF/EHA process
• s.17 Child in Need — needs services for reasonable standard of health/development
• s.47 Child Protection — reasonable cause to suspect significant harm
• If in doubt — refer. It is not your role to investigate; MASH will assess.
• Record your reasons whether you refer or not
• Do not seek parental consent before referring if this would place the child at risk

📞 Key Contacts