One in four adults (25%) have been worried that a child they know or living in their area is being neglected, and over a third (38%) did not tell anyone about their concerns, a new survey published by Action for Children reveals today.
The survey has been commissioned to highlight the difficulty of identifying and preventing the neglect of children. Neglect involves a wide range of complex factors from children feeling that they are not loved, nourished, supported and clothed, to worrying that their home is not safe and secure. Action for Children’s experience of working with thousands of the most vulnerable families across the UK has provided the charity with further evidence on the issue of neglect and the practical, long term solutions that combat it.
It comes as child neglect is becoming an ever-growing safeguarding concern. In 2008 in England alone neglect was the reason why 45% of children were on the child protection register, compared to 15% for physical abuse, 7% for sexual abuse and 25% for emotional abuse.
The survey polled over 1,000 adults and parents in the UK and highlighted the public’s lack of understanding of child neglect and the reasons why adults hesitate to act on their suspicions. The results include:
- 16% of adults said they did not tell anyone because they were frightened of repercussions or it may cause them trouble
- 15% said they did not tell anyone because it was not any of their business
- One in ten of adults (11%) would tell a neighbour, relative or friend about their suspicions first rather than social services or the Police
- 15% said that a lack of proof prevented them from doing anything
- 23% said they did not think they had enough information about who to ask for help
Action for Children warns that public confusion and misunderstanding around child neglect means that services may not find out about families where children are at risk at an early enough stage to prevent serious harm to children. Neglect 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. It can be hard for people around the family to know the right time to do something and feel comfortable and supported in acting on their instincts.
The charity is now launching a major piece of research to investigate how neglect should be tackled.
Announcing the survey findings Clare Tickell, Chief Executive at Action for Children, says: “Child neglect is a real danger to children and also often indicates underlying and serious problems in the family as a whole. In our child-centred services across the UK, Action for Children brings together a range of expert professionals, working alongside vulnerable families and we have learned that communities as a whole need to understand the effects on children of living in neglectful families. Today we’re announcing the start of an investigation that will look at the most effective ways to intervene early in cases of neglect.”
Leading the research for Action for Children, Professor Tony Long at Salford University says; “Unlike sexual or physical abuse, neglect is often overlooked and poorly understood. The results of this work between the University of Salford and Action for Children will inform Government policy, and have a major impact on the way children and their families are supported.”
Researchers will work with Action for Children services in Scotland, Wales and England looking at the reasons why families are referred for support, what needs and problems they have, what support they are given and the long term effects of this work on the children involved.
More information
- DCSF national figures on referrals, assessment and children and young people who are the subjects of child protection plans (on the child protection register) for year ending March 2008.
- Neglect is the 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. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food and clothing, shelter including exclusion for the home and abandonment, failing to protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger, failure to ensure adequate supervision including the use of inadequate care-takers, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child's basic emotional needs. (DCSF, Working Together, 2006)
- ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,038 adults aged 18+ by telephone between 13 to 15 February 2009. Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
- Spokespeople are available for interview. Filming opportunities are available and ISDN interviews on 0207 359 1823
- Action for Children is the new name for NCH, the children’s charity, one of the UK’s leading children’s charities, which was established in 1869
- We work in partnership to run nearly 450 services for nearly 170,000 of the UK’s most vulnerable children, young people and their families.
- Action for Children helps the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK break through injustice, deprivation and inequality, so they can achieve their full potential
