Key publications on neglect
January 2012
A list of key publications on child neglect, one of the NSPCC's priorities.
Child neglect in 2011: an annual review by Action for Children in partnership with the University of Stirling (PDF).
Burgess, Cheryl, Daniel, Brigid, Scott, Jane, Mulley, Kate, Derbyshire, David and Downie, Matthew
Action for Children, 2012
First annual report on child neglect from Action for Children and the University of Stirling. Findings include: 51% of social workers, and 36% of police officers said they felt 'powerless' to intervene in suspected cases of child neglect, and 81% of professionals in universal services (primary school teachers, pre-school and nursery staff and health professionals) that come into contact with children have suspected children of being neglected.
Ten top tips for identifying neglect.
Beesley, Pat
British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), 2011
Provides guidance on identifying, evidencing and responding to neglect. Chapters cover understanding why parents neglect their children; lessons to be learned from serious case reviews; the impact of neglect on children; and how best to intervene. Aimed at social care practitioners and others working with children and families needing a quick reference guide.
Neglecting the issue: impact, causes and responses to child neglect in the UK (PDF).
Action for Children, 2011
Looks at the impact, causes and responses to child neglect in the UK. Identifies six gaps in knowledge about neglect: the role of fathers; public health and prevention; targeting families; parental and carers' views; actively seeking children's views; and understanding the scale of neglect. Discusses prevalence, recognising neglect, and current knowledge on the
subject. States that poverty, substance misuse and inability to access local family support services are among the factors that can increase or cause child neglect.
Adolescent neglect: research, policy and practice.
Rees, Gwyther, Stein, Mike, Hicks, Leslie and Gorin, Sarah
London: Jessica Kingsley, 2011
Discusses the neglect of young people (11-17 year olds). Outlines how adolescent neglect differs from child neglect, the context of why it is overlooked, how it is defined, the causes and consequences of neglect, young people's views, and what professionals can do. Based on original research, this book establishes an evidence base and considers implications for policy and practice. Reflection points included throughout. Suitable for practitioners working with young people, particularly those in social work, health services and education, policymakers and students.
Recognizing and helping the neglected child: evidence-based practice for assessment and intervention.
Daniel, Brigid, Taylor, Julie, Scott, Jane, Derbyshire, David, and Neilson, Deanna
Jessica Kingsley, 2011
Explores key issues around child neglect including: how neglect can be recognised, signs that parents need help, and signs that a child's needs are not being met. Covers how practitioners should respond, including assessment, planning and appropriate interventions. Also considers the prevention of child neglect, proposing a public health approach. Based on evidence gathered from a Department of Health and Department of Children, Schools and Families (now DfE) funded literature review. Includes practical case studies throughout and makes recommendations for policy and practice.
Neglect matters: a multi-agency guide for professionals working together on behalf of teenagers (PDF).
Hicks, Leslie and Stein, Mike
Nottingham: Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), 2010
Guide for professionals to improve understanding of what adolescent neglect is and to offer suggestions for ways of improving multi-agency practice. Covers assessment, prevention and intervention and provides signposts to good practice. Answers the questions: what is adolescent neglect? what are the causes and consequences? whose business is adolescent neglect? what can I do about it? what practitioners need to know and do? Based on a review of research: Stein, M. et al (2009)
Neglected adolescents: literature review (PDF). London: DCSF.
Recognition of neglect and early response: overview of a systematic review of the literature.Daniel, Brigid, Taylor, Julie and Scott, Jane
Child and Family Social Work 15(2), May 2010: 248-257
Systematic review of the literature on child neglect focusing on three questions: how children and families directly or indirectly signal their need for help, recognition and response to the indications of child neglect and could the professional response to neglect be swifter. Finds evidence that professionals can identify signs of neglect but are not always clear about the most effective response.
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Child and Family Social Work 15(2): 248-257Noticing and helping the neglected child: literature review (PDF).
Daniel, Brigid, and Taylor, Julie, and Scott, Jane
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), 2009
Synthesis of the existing empirical evidence about the ways in which children and families signal their need for help, how those signals are recognised and responded to and whether response could be swifter. Findings include: limited evidence on parents directly seeking help; professionals' views of neglect differ from the general public who set higher standards for children's care; health staff were not concerned about their capacity to recognise neglect, but worried about the most appropriate response and access to resources.
Developing an effective response to neglect and emotional harm to children.
Gardner, Ruth
NSPCC, 2008
Research report based on 100 interviews across England, a specialist national seminar and a focused literature review. Outlines the case for a national strategy on child neglect that reflects the holistic policy framework of Every Child Matters. The project set out to: profile challenges and achievements in work with children and families where neglect and associated emotional harm are issues; review recent research and theory-based practice development; provide concrete examples of improvements to joint practice; and, develop an all-agency strategy for addressing neglect in the short, medium and long terms with one or more Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs).
Child neglect: identification and assessment.
Horwath, Jan
Palgrave Macmillan, 2007
Aimed at practitioners and managers working to safeguard and promote the welfare of neglected children, this book is designed to help with the identification and assessment of child neglect. It highlights the relevant personal, professional and organisational factors and explores how current practice can be improved. Divided into the following four sections: 1) Defining child neglect: what it is and what it does to children. 2) Assessing the care-giver and the care-giving context. 3) Referral and assessment: practice reality. 4) Moving practice forward - which includes the assessment challenges and best practice, and developing practitioner and organisational capacity.
Neglected children and their families. 2nd ed.
Stevenson, Olive
Blackwell Publishing, 2007
Provides guidance for assessment and intervention in child neglect for all those studying in childcare, including social workers, health visitors and child nurses. Chapter one begins by defining and understanding the problem. Chapter two considers the general context, chapter three focuses on parents and issues such as substance abuse, depression, and learning disability. Chapter four considers the effects of serious and chronic neglect, including the implications for the development of delinquent behaviour, the concept of resilience, and attachment. Chapter five addresses working together in cases of neglect and chapter six explores modes of intervention, help for parents, the wider family, the neighbourhood and wider community, the concept of 'shared care', and the continuum of complementary care.
The emotionally abused and neglected child: identification, assessment and intervention. A practice handbook. 2nd ed.
Iwaniec, Dorota
Wiley, 2006
Explores the concept of the 'damaged child', and asks what are the different types of injury, ranging from active to passive, physical to emotional, that stop children reaching their full potential - psychologically and physically. Questions whether emotional damage to a child can be repaired. Includes case studies to illustrate the features of emotional abuse, information about assessment and prediction of emotional abuse, and the effects of emotional abuse as the child grows up, intervention and treatment, and working with the family as a whole. The second edition has expanded to include topics such as: bullying, divorce and domestic violence.
Child neglect: practice issues for health and social care.
Taylor, Julie and Daniel, Brigid (eds.)
Jessica Kingsley, 2005
Addresses issues surrounding child neglect, including recognition, effective prevention, economic and social factors, and appropriate intervention. Aimed at practitioners, academics and policy makers, the book draws on current research and practice knowledge, and sets out the implications for social work and health practice and policies. Includes bibliography and subject index.
Neglected children: research, practice, and policy.
Dubowitz, Howard (ed.)
London: Sage, 1999
Contents: Child neglect: the family with a hole in the middle; Child neglect: a review of definitions and measurement research; Child neglect: causes and contributors; Cultural competence and child neglect; Child neglect: short-term and long-term outcomes; Neglect of children's health care; Prenatal alcohol and drug use and risk for child maltreatment: a timely approach to intervention; Fatal child neglect; The prevention of child neglect; Evaluation and risk assessment of child neglect in public child protection services; Intervening with families when children are neglected; Are battered women bad mothers?: rethinking the termination of abused women's parental rights for failure to protect; Child neglect: research recommendations and future directions; Policy issues in child neglect.
To find more publications on neglect try searching the NSPCC Library catalogue using the subject term "child neglect" or contact the NSPCC Information Service to request information tailored to your specific requirements
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