Child neglect is a failure on the part of either the male and/or female caregiver or pregnant mother to complete the parenting tasks required to ensure the developmental needs of the child are met. This failure may be associated with parenting issues such as such a drug and alcohol misuse. Neglect should be differentiated from poverty and occurs despite reasonable resources being available to enable the carer/s to complete the parenting tasks to a good enough standard. Whilst neglect is likely to be ongoing and cause cumulative harm one-off incidents and episodic neglect can affect the health and development of the child.
There are a range of parenting behaviours that can be described as neglect:
Medical neglect: a failure to seek and provide appropriate medical, dental and optical care
Nutritional neglect: occurs when the carer fails to pay sufficient attention to the diet for the child who may become obese or fail to thrive
Supervisory neglect: happens when the carer fails to provide the level of guidance and supervision that ensures the child is safe and protected from harm
Educational neglect: is more than securing school attendance it includes a failure on the part of the carer to provide an environment allowing the child to achieve their cognitive potential
Physical neglect: happens when the child does not receive appropriate physical care necessary for their age and development and/or where the child lives in a physical environment that is not conducive to their health and development healthy and/or is unsafe
Identity neglect: occurs when a parent or carer fails to recognise or address the child or young person’s needs in terms of, for example, culture, religion, gender and sexuality.
Provision within the homeconsider neglect if:
a child has severe and persistent infestations, such as scabies or head lice.
if a child’s clothing or footwear is consistently inappropriate (for example, for the weather or the child’s size).
if a child is persistently smelly and dirty.
if you repeatedly observe or hear reports of the following home environment that is in the parents’ or carers’ control:
Be aware that abandoning a child is a form of maltreatment.
Malnutrition consider neglect if:
a child displays faltering growth (failure to thrive) because of lack of provision of an adequate or appropriate diet.
Supervision consider neglect if:
the explanation for an injury (for example, a burn, sunburn or an ingestion of a harmful substance) suggests a lack of appropriate supervision.
a child or young person is not being cared for by a person who is able to provide adequate care.
if there is a report or appearance of an animal bite on a child who has been inadequately supervised.
Ensuring access to appropriate medical care or treatment consider neglect if:
parents or carers fail to administer essential prescribed treatment for their child.
parents or carers repeatedly fail to attend essential follow-up appointments that are necessary for their child’s health and wellbeing.
parents or carers persistently fail to engage with relevant child health promotion programmes which include:
parents or carers have access to but persistently fail to obtain NHS treatment for their child’s dental caries (tooth decay).
parents or carers fail to seek medical advice for their child to the extent that the child’s health and wellbeing are compromised, including if the child is in ongoing pain.
Further Information:
NSPCC and Cardiff University Department of Child Health. (2014b). Core Info: Neglect or Emotional Abuse in Children Aged 5-14. London: NSPCC, (Accessed 29/7/2019)
NSPCC and Cardiff University Department of Child Health. (2014c). Core Info: Neglect or Emotional Abuse in Teenagers Aged 13-18. London: NSPCC, (Accessed 29/7/2019
Pithouse, A., and Crowley, A. (2016). "Tackling child neglect: key developments in Wales." Research, Policy and Planning, 32(1), 25-37.
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. (2017a). Child Protection Evidence Systematic review on Dental Neglect, (Behind website firewall, 29/07/2019)
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. (2017b). Child Protection Evidence Systematic review on Early Years Neglect, (Behind website firewall, 29/07/2019)
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. (2017c). Child Protection Evidence Systematic review on School Aged Neglect, (Behind website firewall, 29/07/2019)
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. (2017d). Child Protection Evidence Systematic review on Teenage Neglect, (unobtainable 29/07/2019 – archive?)
Horwath, J (2013) Child Neglect: Planning and Intervention. London: Palgrave McMillan. ISBN978-0-230-20666-3 pp 298.
Horwath, J. (2007) The Neglected Child: Identification and Assessment. London: Palgrave. ISBN 978-1-4039-3346-1 pp 281.