Action for Children to help create Welsh Government’s national plan on child neglect

The Welsh Government has approved £75,000 funding for Action for Children, in partnership with NSPCC, to deliver a project designed to develop a stronger national approach to child neglect.

Announcing the funding, Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Health and Social Services, said: 
 
"Neglect continues to be the most common reason for a child protection referral in the UK and we must address this.

"This project by the NSPCC and Action for Children will complement the new structure of Safeguarding Children Boards to be established via the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill and will help strengthen multi-agency engagement and a more consistent approach."

The project will look at the range of barriers which can stop neglected children getting the help they need, and make recommendations on how to overcome them.

Griffiths continued: "This project should link with the preventative work being delivered through other early intervention programmes which work with families, especially through Families First and Flying Start. This way, only critical cases are referred to social services, while other support can be provided to families when required."

This project is part of Action for Children's ongoing work on child neglect.