Every family is different, but all children should be kept safe, feel loved, and get an education. All children need to feel safe and have rules and boundaries. Most parents/carers do everything they can to look after their children, but some may have difficulties with this and there are adults whose job it is to help them with that.
Most parents/carers do everything they can to protect their children and make sure they’re brought up in a loving and caring environment, but families can sometimes have difficulties and children may suffer as a result. All adults need to keep children safe and if an adult is worried about a child, they must do something about this.
Being badly treated or abused is defined as Neglect, Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse or Sexual Abuse.
None of the signs outlined below would indicate for certain that a child is being neglected but children who are persistently and severely neglected may be in danger. Some parents/carers simply need more resources and support to properly care for their children, but some have more complex problems. In both cases, they need help from professionals.
Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance misuse. Children need adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, warmth, protection and health care and they need their carers to be attentive, dependable and kind and protective.
Neglect can have a debilitating and long-lasting effect on a child’s physical wellbeing, and on their mental, emotional and behavioural development. In some cases the effects can cause permanent disabilities and in severe cases, death.