NSPCC finds ‘hidden pool of neglect’ in child protection system

Survey finds nearly 60% of social care professionals said it was unlikely swift action could be taken to protect neglected children

Children suffering neglect are unlikely to receive help from social services in time to prevent them coming to further harm, according an NSPCC survey that found a “hidden pool of neglect” inside the child protection system.

Nearly 60% of social care professionals questioned in a survey published on Thursday in Community Care magazine said they believed it was “quite” or “very” unlikely that social services would take swift action to protect children who were being neglected. For cases of emotional abuse, this figure rose to 72%.

“Social workers are telling us of a hidden pool of neglect that is not being prioritised as a child protection concern,” said Dr Ruth Gardner, head of the NSPCC’s neglect programme. “Social workers, and others working in child protection, are working tirelessly to keep children safe from harm but they are telling us it’s an uphill struggle.

“At every stage, from identifying neglect, to getting parents to change their behaviour, to making a legal case for taking children into care, they are telling us they face bottlenecks and obstacles to taking action,” she said.

The findings – based on a survey of 242 social care professionals, including social workers, family support workers and children’s guardians – found that only 7% of respondents said they were confident that neglect cases that should progress to care proceedings or a supervision requirement application regularly do so.

The responses directly compare with other forms of child abuse. Where physical abuse is concerned, virtually every respondent – 96% – said it was quite or very likely that timely action would be taken in their area, while 94% said the same for cases of sexual abuse.

The NSPCC has seen an 80% surge in calls on neglect in the last 18 months. Gardner said the survey highlights the complexities of responding to child neglect and that it confirms the fears of campaigners that the problem is not considered a priority: a third of respondents admitted they lacked confidence about the risk they are managing.

Two-fifths of respondents to the survey said they felt their local area was “ineffective in taking appropriate action against neglect”. Issues raised includes difficulty getting cases to court, pressure to downgrade cases to “child in need”, problems presenting evidence, lack of support from managers and from legal teams.

This lack of confidence was more pronounced when asked whether appropriate legal proceedings are sought. Just under two-thirds of respondents said they lacked confidence that neglect cases that should progress to care proceedings or supervision requirements regularly do so.

“Neglect can be unique in terms of child abuse because it often relies on proving inaction such as not feeding a child adequately and can require evidence of this over a long period of time,” she said. “Whereas sexual abuse or physical abuse may require evidence of just one incident such as a broken bone or severe bruising, that can be used to take urgent, decisive action.”

Cafcass reported earlier in the year that cases that do get to court are being dealt with in a timely manner. But that, said Gardner, is “just the tip of the iceberg”. Most child neglect cases, she said, are not getting to court.

“We think there is an issue before this stage of neglect going round a ‘revolving door’ within the child protection system, where the cases are managed at a low level – families given support and then the support is withdrawn and the neglect returns – without being escalated, unless a serious incident occurs, which then means there is no doubt that a child is at risk of serious harm,” she said.

“This is very worrying but social workers are trying to do the right thing so we want this to be a wake-up call for the whole child protection system,” she added.

“The NSPCC is now working closely with the legal and social work professions to look at how we can improve the process of bringing cases to the family courts to protect more children. And new NSPCC services are working directly with children at risk of neglect to find new ways of tackling the problem.”