NSPCC - Who to turn to - Helpline - Worried that a child may be neglected?

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Worried that a child may be neglected?

Neglect can have a serious effect on a child's physical, mental and emotional development. For babies and very young children, it can be life-threatening.

Signs of neglect in children

There are occasions when nearly all parents find it difficult to cope with the many demands of caring for children. But this does not mean that their children are being neglected. True neglect involves ongoing, severe failure to meet a child's needs. Here are some signs of possible neglect:

if the child seems underweight and is very small for their age
if they are poorly clothed, with inadequate protection from the weather
if they are often absent from school for no apparent reason
if they are regularly left alone, or in charge of younger brothers or sisters.

Making sure

It is not always easy to be sure that neglect is taking place. There can sometimes be other explanations for a child's worrying appearance or behaviour.

The Helpline often receives calls from people who think a child is being neglected and who want to make sure they are right about what seems to happening. Here are some examples of the kind of situations they ask us about:

"My neighbours' children often don't go to school. Their parents don't seem to care and I'm concerned that the children are being neglected."
Parents and carers must ensure that children between the age of five and 16 years receive a satisfactory education. In fact, the law insists that they do so.

If you think that there is not a valid reason for their absence, such as long term illness or exclusion from school, then you should tell your local social services or education department about your concerns. They will check out the family situation and, if necessary, take action with the parents. Their main focus will be to ensure the children start attending school regularly. They will also check that absence from school is not part of an overall pattern of neglect by the parents.

"My niece has had headlice for over a year. My sister-in-law refuses to take her to see the GP or to get rid of them with medication from the chemist. Is this neglect?"
Headlice are very common problem among school children in the UK. Infection alone does not mean the child is being neglected. However, your niece's lack of treatment over such a long period of time is definitely a cause for concern.

Parents who don't ensure that their children receive the medical care or treatment they need are being neglectful. Not only is your niece probably suffering a lot of discomfort, but she may also be being rejected or bullied by other children because of the head lice.

Medicated lotion for getting rid of headlice is on sale in most chemists or large supermarkets. Perhaps you could buy some and suggest to your sister-in-law that you will help her treat the child's head.

If you are able get rid of the lice in this way, remember that your niece could be re-infected by another family member or friend who has not been treated. Research shows that some lice are becoming resistant to the lotions on sale, which can be frustrating for parents.

If the lice infecting your niece's hair resist treatment from the chemist, your sister-in-law should contact the family GP.

If parents still refuse to treat the infestation, then phone the Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or contact your local Social Services.

"A new family has moved to our street. They have six children, who always look dirty and unkempt but seem happy enough. Am I right to feel some concern about the children?"
A child who is often dirty, smelly and not properly dressed for the weather may be suffering neglect. However, it's important to consider the following before assuming that these signs automatically mean neglect:

Just because a child is occasionally dirty or doesn't have the latest fashionable clothing, it does not mean they are being neglected. Nearly all children get dirty at times and not all families can afford new clothing for their children.
The family may not have access to a washing machine or drying facilities. This could make it difficult for the parents to ensure their children always have clean clothes, but does not necessarily indicate neglect.
If a child is occasionally smelly, this may be because the parents have limited access to hot water so regular bathing is difficult to arrange. It does not necessarily indicate neglect. However, poor personal hygiene that goes on for a long time can have a negative affect on a child's health and / or their emotional well-being.
If the children's appearance is the only thing that worries you, it's probably best to keep an eye on the situation at the moment. Take note of the children's relationships with their parents and with each other. Do they seem to get along OK? Do the parents supervise the children effectively? Does the family seem to have a routine? Or do the children appear underweight, unhealthy or distressed in any way?

If you are still concerned, contact the Helpline on 0808 800 5000 and talk things over with a Helpline adviser, or contact your local social services. All our advisers are qualified child protection officers. If necessary, they will pass details of your concerns to the local social services department and ask them to look into the situation.

"A neighbour works full time and seems to be leaving her children alone during the day. Is this neglect?"
There is no UK law stating the age at which a child can be left at home alone.

However, parents can be prosecuted for wilful neglect if they leave a child alone or unsupervised "in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health" (Children and Young Persons Act 1933).

Babies should never be left alone, even for a short time. If you notice that a baby or a child under the age of nine has been left on their own, contact the police on 999. They will go to the house to make sure that the child is safe from harm.

Before leaving an older child alone, parents must take into account the child's age and maturity, their ability to cope in an emergency and how they feel about being left alone. Most children under the age of 13 are not mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left alone for more than a short time.

We recommend that children under the age of 16 should not be left alone overnight.

A helping hand

Your neighbour may be having difficulties finding child care. Perhaps the family is isolated and lacks the support of relatives and friends? As a neighbour, could you offer help with contacting local support services or with child care? See below for organisations that offer child care advice.

Useful contacts

NSPCC Helpline
Tel: 0808 800 5000
Email: Helpline@nspcc.org.uk

NSPCC Asian Helpline
Bengali 0800 096 7714
Gujurati 0800 096 7715
Hindi 0800 096 7716
Punjabi 0800 096 7717
Urdu 0800 096 7718
Asian/English 0800 096 7719

Cymru/Wales Child Protection Helpline
Freephone: 0808 100 2524.
Email: helplinecymru@nspcc.org.uk in English or Welsh.
Textphone: Freephone 0808 100 1033. This is for people with hearing difficulties.
Fax: 01248 361085

National Childminding Association
Tel: 020 8464 6164
www.ncma.org.uk
Promotes childminding as a quality child care and education service.

Daycare Trust
Tel: 020 7739 2866
www.daycaretrust.org.uk
Provides information on child care options for parents.

National Council for One-parent Families
Office telephone: 020 7428 5400
Helpline: 0800 018 5026
www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk
Promotes the welfare of lone parents and their children. Provides leaflets and can advise single parents on benefits and maintenance.

National Council for One Parent Families - Scotland
Helpline: 0800 018 5026
Mon 11am-2pm
Tues 3pm-6pm
Thurs 3pm-6pm
www.opfs.org.uk

Gingerbread
Freephone advice line: 0800 018 4318
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
www.gingerbread.org.uk
Support organisation for lone parent families in England, Wales and UK.