Embargo: 00:01, Tuesday 13th October
Contact details: Action for Children Media Team on 0207 704 7111 or mediateam@actionforchildren.org.uk, out of hours 07802 806 679
More than one in 10 (11%) of professionals working with children have seen an increase in suspected cases of child neglect in the last 12 months, yet nearly one in five (19%)(1) have had no training or information on what to do, according to new research revealed by Action for Children today (Tuesday, October 13th). Child neglect is now a major issue but an overlooked area of child protection in the UK and the charity is fearful that neglected children will continue to slip through the net with potentially devastating consequences.
Studies suggest that up to 10% of children in the UK actually experience neglect (2). It is the biggest reason for a child having a child protection plan, ahead of both physical and sexual abuse (3). Addressing this problem, Action for Children surveyed nearly 2,000 primary school, pre-school, nursery and health professionals (4) all who come into regular contact with children and young people, to gauge their understanding of child neglect(5) and its causes.
Today’s results from the frontline professionals reveal a number of clear signals in schools, nurseries and hospitals throughout the country that have alerted professionals to neglected children. These include:
- A child who is unclean or smells (64%)
- A child who is displaying worrying behaviour patterns (50%)
- A child who is receiving inappropriate care in the home (47%)
- A child who is wearing inappropriate clothes for their age or the weather (36%)
- A child who is being exposed to potentially unsafe situations such as drug and alcohol abuse (37%)
- A child who is regularly late for school / nursery (33%)
In examining the causes of neglect, professionals have outlined a number of serious factors. Family breakdown (60%), cyclical family problems (50%) and poor parenting skills (78%) are all exposed as reasons for recent increases in cases of neglect. Nearly one in five felt the recession was partly responsible (15%) and a third said it was due to reduced family finances (33%).
Professionals also warn of the long-term, damaging problems that neglected children are more likely to suffer including emotional and mental health problems, poor social skills, limited school attendance and poor educational attainment, bullying and isolation.
The survey comes as Action for Children launches an urgent nationwide appeal to raise £17 million to help neglected children. Leading the Appeal, Action for Children Celebrity supporter Davina McCall says: “Most people are unaware of neglect and that it’s happening on our own doorsteps. We all see neglected children without even knowing it and currently the issue is being overlooked to the detriment of children in the UK. The Action for Children Appeal is aimed at raising awareness and beginning the process of helping those children who suffer.”
More than half of those surveyed (55%) said being able to report less serious suspicions earlier would be helpful when dealing with suspected child neglect, while 44% said clearer guidance from the Government or their employers on when to intervene would also make a difference. Nearly a third (30%) of those questioned felt under more pressure to intervene in suspected child neglect cases than five years ago, with more than two-thirds (68%) of these citing media attention on high-profile cases as the reason why.
Action for Children Chief Executive, Clare Tickell, says: “Neglect is a growing problem and one we must fix. The same issues for neglected children and their families are coming up time and time again. Frontline staff are key to identifying early signs of neglect and giving children and families long term stable support to tackle the causes. Yet many professionals are telling us that they lack sufficient training and information to appropriately deal with suspected neglect. The Government must listen to what is being said and act to support early intervention.”
Money raised through the charity’s appeal will go towards vital support services to help children and families that are struggling. The charity is calling on the public to take their action for children by visiting
www.actionforchildren.org.uk
Notes to Editors
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All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from a YouGov Plc survey commissioned by Action for Children. The survey was carried out online among 1926 primary school, pre-school, nursery staff and health professionals who work with children aged under 18 in the UK. Fieldwork was undertaken between 15th July - 3rd August 2009. The figures have not been weighted.
- The study that this statistic is taken from is Gilbert, R, Spatz, Widom, C, Browne, K, Fergusson, D, Webb, E, Janson, S (2008 – 2009) Burden and consequences of child maltreatment in high-income countries, The Lancet, Child Maltreatment Series, articles 1-3.
- In the UK, of all the cases where a child has been identified as being at risk, almost half (48%) are due to neglect. This is calculated as a national average of the percentage of all cases subject to a child protection plan in England or the child protection register in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that have been classified as neglect http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000873/index.shtml,
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/28115405/0
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/children_order_tables_2007-08_final.pdf http://www.dataunitwales.gov.uk/Documents/Publications/lgd01117_cpr_bulletin_2008_v2_eng.pdf
- Universal professionals were interviewed, this included primary school, pre-school, nursery staff and health professionals.
- Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child's basic needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development. It can be harder to recognise than other forms of child abuse because it is often a symptom of other long-term and complex problems in a family rather than an easily recognisable one off event. Neglect comes in many guises. The easiest way to spot the signs is if you see things on a regular basis over a period of time, it could be a child who frequently goes hungry, regularly going to school in dirty clothes, not being taken to the doctors when ill, frequently left unsupervised and living in a dirty home.
- Action for Children is one of the UK's largest children's charities working with over 156,000 children, young people and their families at around 420 projects across the UK.
- Previously known as NCH, Action for Children is committed to helping the most vulnerable children and young people break through injustice, deprivation and inequality so they can achieve their full potential. For further information visit www.actionforchildren.org.uk
