Support for families in poverty: early intervention is key

Children living in poverty are more likely to suffer neglect, according to new data published by the NSPCC. We need effective early interventions to help families thrive, by Carol Long

The NSPCC has published new data showing that over the past year we have received our highest recorded volume of calls to our helpline about neglect ever – more than 12,000. In a nation that is still one of the wealthiest in the world, callers described children going hungry, left home alone or abandoned outside in the cold for hours on end. More children have a child-protection plan for neglect than for any other form of maltreatment – and the sad fact is that numbers are rising.

At the same time, an increasing number of families in the UK are slipping into poverty. Earlier this year Unicef warned that we are going backwards in meeting the 2020 target to eliminate child poverty. Some families are struggling to provide the basics for their children. The number of people reliant on emergency food supplies has doubled in 12 months to almost 129,000.

Child abuse doesn’t stem from poverty. Neglect and other forms of abuse are present across the whole of society, and many very poor people are also loving and caring parents. But there is a complex link between the two issues. For families already under pressure, poverty can be the factor that pushes them over the edge. The numbers of low-income families who are known to children’s social care is disproportionate to those from other social groups.

Neglectful parents may be struggling with past abuse, domestic violence, mental ill-health, disability or substance misuse. Many parents have levels of resilience that help them to deal with these issues, especially if they have access to wider support, but poverty can take them beyond the point where they can cope and this can have a serious impact for their children.

Through a range of new services and a comprehensive evaluation programme, we are finding out what works best to help families provide good-quality care for their children.

Our improving parenting, improving practice service is part of this approach. We’re working with parents to help them develop positive relationships with their children through play sessions. These are filmed so parents, along with an NSPCC children’s worker, can watch themselves and learn more about how positive responses to their children can build strong relationships and increase their confidence in their parenting skills.

By highlighting what they do well, parents can explore how to further improve their interactions with their children. Workers go on to give support in person and over the phone, helping parents to manage stress, anger, and anxiety.

When I talk to practitioners about their work with children, it is really apparent how difficult life is for some families, living in poor housing, on low incomes and being socially isolated.

However, if services are unavailable to help parents who are slipping into poverty, children will continue to suffer. Cuts to support for vulnerable families are a false economy. The financial and human costs of providing early support are dwarfed by the costs of letting problems spiral to the point where a child has to be taken into care.

Now more than ever, with tighter budgets and limited resources, we need effective early interventions to help families thrive.

Carol Long is head of services for children and families at the NSPCC.