Professionals need to know the signs of neglect
Today's report 'It takes a lot to build trust' by the Office of the Children's Commissioner to England says it is down to teachers, social workers and other professionals to notice the signs and symptoms of mistreatment rather than wait for a child to talk about it.
Kate Mulley, head of policy at Action for Children said;
“Although teachers, police officers and social workers must notice the signs of neglect, many feel that there are barriers which make it difficult to intervene.
“Worryingly our research has shown that as many as nine out of ten professionals are coming into contact with children they suspect are suffering from neglect regularly, but because of a lack of services and resources half of professionals say they are facing barriers when they report neglect.
“We also spoke to children as part of our research and up to 80% of children we spoke to have spotted the signs of neglect in classrooms and playgrounds, including children who were hungry, smelly or dirty. This can lead to children being ignored or being laughed at – all of which can cause lasting damage to a child's self-esteem and lead to problems later in life.
“We know how important it is to give children and families support as early as possible, so we need to ensure not only professionals, but the public feel confident when reporting suspected cases of child neglect."
Action for Children wants:
- a web portal for the public to seek help for children they are worried about Government to support professionals to make timely decisions, meaning neglected children receive effective help from the identification of suspected cases to chronic neglect, so opportunities aren't missed in the future.
