Neglect

Types of Harm

Neglect is often one of the less understood forms of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual and neglect) and can be very hard to identify. Therefore, LGfL has created a range of resources, support and training to support schools with this challenging safeguarding area.

Let us know where you would like support

Training Courses from the SafeguardED Team

Our neglect expert offers regular two-hour sessions to help you better understand the challenges of identifying and responding to neglect. Sadly as a result of the current cost-of-living crisis, we believe these challenges will only be accentuated.

The course is ideal for new or experienced DSLs, helping them to understand, identify and evidence neglectful care, exploring what neglect looks like, its impact and how to better identify it.

In addition to this introductory course we also have four 30 minu short courses on specific areas of neglect to help explore particular issues further (we recommend you first attend the Introduction course).

Introduction to Neglect

Neglect is the most prevalent form of maltreatment a child can experience and one of the most challenging types of harm for schools to evidence. Reviews and research often suggest that practitioners do not fully understand neglect, so why not come to this two-hour session to find out more, develop best-practice in your school and learn new ways to keep children safe.

Failing to Care

It is widely known that there is a link between neglect and poverty. However poverty does not cause neglect. The relationship is much more complex. Come along to this 2hr session to better understand neglect as a result of poverty and what schools can do to help children and families.

Safeguarding shorts : Adolescent Neglect

Neglect is identified much less often in older children, compared to younger children, but the effects can be significant

Safeguarding Shorts - Disabled Children & Neglect

Exploring challenges identifying the neglect of disabled children, and what schools can do to overcome them

Neglect Shorts - Disabled Children & Neglect

Safeguarding Shorts - Affluent Neglect

Neglect can occur in any family, even those of considerable wealth, however this isn't always recognised

Safeguarding Shorts - Cumulative Harm

Reviews have often shown that practitioners do not effectively understand cumulative harm - come and explore the issue

LGfL Safeguarding Newsletter

Access Safeguarding Resources

Affluent Neglect Spotlights

Use these 5 minute video resources in team meetings or otherwise, to provide updates and to support staff with enhancing their safeguarding knowledge and practice.

Affluent Neglect Spotlight 1

What is affluent neglect? What can it look like and how best should we respond to it in schools?

Affluent Neglect Spotlight 2

Our second case study of affluent neglect for staff to explore. How can bias impact our response to neglect in more affluent families?

What does neglect look like?

Neglect is often characterised in a particular way, but it is important to remember that there are very distinct forms of neglect. It could be:

A young child who is not bathed or fed enough, living in cramped housing and sharing a bed with two other siblings
A 14-year-old with everything they could wish for materially and physically, but given little love, warmth or interaction from parents
A disabled child whose parent/carer doesn’t follow prescribed medical advice to meet their dietary requirements or who is very negative towards and about their child
A 9-year-old who is morbidly obese due to high calorie intake, where parent/carers do not follow the dietician’s advice to reduce the child’s weight