1. ISLE OF WIGHT SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD
Launch of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Neglect Strategy 2016
Kathy Marriott, Area Director, Isle of Wight Council, Children’s Services

2. Why does neglect matter?
Nationally neglect is the most prevalent presenting issue for contacts with children’s social care.
Neglect is predominant factor in serious case reviews where a child has died or been seriously injured.
Neglect creates lasting damage and has long term consequences
Our collective ability to recognise and understand the impact of neglect is essential

3. Definitions of neglect
NSPCC (2014)
“A persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and or developmental needs. Neglect includes failing to provide for a child’s health, education, emotional development, nutrition, clothing, shelter, safety and safe living conditions and includes exclusion of the child from home and abandonment”

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Working Together 2015
The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs is 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, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment)
protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger
ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care givers)
ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of or unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs.

5. Aims and objectives of the neglect strategy
The aim of the neglect strategy is to tackle the causes and effects of neglect in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Objectives;
To strengthen local responses in line with current national and local guidance, policies and good practice
To adapt, rather than duplicate, existing guidance, policies or procedures to tackle neglect
To raise awareness and improve the safeguarding duty of all relevant agencies with regards to neglect

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Scope
Adult Services
Ambulance Service
Animal Welfare Groups
Clinical Commissioning Groups
Community CAMHS
Community Rehabilitation Company
Dentists
District and Borough Councils
Education – early years, primary, secondary, post-16, special schools, independent
Environmental Health
Faith Groups
Fire Service
General Practice
Hampshire Constabulary
Housing
National Probation Service
NHS England
NHS Trust Providers
Opticians
Town and Parish Councils
Youth Offending Teams

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Strategic priorities
PRIORITY 1: GOVERNANCE To provide a robust strategic framework for the delivery of an effective range of interventions to tackle neglect in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. PRIORITY 2: PREVENTION To improve awareness, understanding and recognition of neglect as maltreatment across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. PRIORITY 3: INTERVENTIONS To improve the effectiveness of interventions to tackle neglect PRIORITY 4: EVALUATION To monitor progress in reducing the risk of neglect in the population

8. Principles of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Neglect strategy
Develop a whole family approach and ensure it is owned by all stakeholders.
Be outcome focussed
Develop a shared understanding
Building resilience
Risk management

9. Factors contributing to neglect
A number of factors are commonly present in the lives of children experiencing neglect. These factors should not be viewed as causing neglect in all circumstances, but, whether in isolation or combined, these elements can provide early indication of the potential for neglectful care of a child:
Mental health – one or both parents has mental health problems.
Substance misuse.
Domestic violence – unstable and abusive relationships.
Low income – the family has low income (below 60% of the median).
Material deprivation – the family cannot afford a number of food and clothing items.
Cycles of neglect and the adult caregivers’ experience of poor parenting as a child.
Worklessness – no parent in the family is in work.
Housing – the family lives in poor quality and/or overcrowded housing.
Qualifications – no parent in the family has any academic or vocational qualifications.
Illness/disability – at least one parent has a limiting long-standing illness, disability or infirmity.
Poor parental functioning (including learning disabilities).
Social isolation.
Low self concept or esteem.

10. Useful guide to recognising neglect

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Forms of neglect
Emotional
Disorganised
Depressed/Passive
Severe deprivation
Each form of neglect is associated with different effects on both children and parents/carers and has implications for the type of interventions required.

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Local picture

13. How will we know if we are making a difference?
Reduction in the incidents of neglect while acknowledging that figures may initially rise (due to better recognition and awareness) particularly at early help levels where neglect is a feature
Reduction over time in the number of children subject to a child protection plan due to neglect/incidents of neglect in comparison to our statistical neighbours
Reduction in the number of repeat referrals to children’s services post child and family assessment where neglect is a feature
Improvement in school attendance
Percentage of early help assessments where neglect has been identified as a factor
Percentage of referrals to children’s services for reasons of neglect
Percentage of children subject of a child protection plan for reasons of neglect
Number of children not brought (<16 years) or not attending (16-17 years) medical, including dental, appointments
Average length of child protection plan for neglect at point of closure (in months)
Number of crimes recorded for neglect