Member News
2nd January 2012As the government develops its response to Munro's review of the child protection system, helping neglected children should be a top priority in 2012, says Action for Children.
Up to 1.5 million children in the UK are thought to be experiencing neglect. Neglect robs children of the childhood they deserve, leaves broken families and misery in its wake, and - in the most extreme cases - can lead to the death of a child. More commonly, it leaves children with low self-esteem, anxiety or depression, and often influences the relationships they make with others in both early and later life, including with their own children.
Neglect remains the biggest reason for a child to need protection, and too many children are still experiencing chronic neglect for long periods of time and not getting the help they need when they need it - yet it is within our power to change this.
The need to do more to recognise and protect neglected children is more urgent than ever, as we see increased need and pressures on parenting within vulnerable families. Action for Children’s Red Book (2011) revealed that over 50 per cent of our children’s centre managers reported seeing more cases of suspected child neglect in the last twelve months. At the same time, we are seeing reduced capacity in services such as those based in children’s and family centres which spot signs of neglect, and those for adults affected by substance misuse, mental health problems and domestic abuse - factors very often associated with neglect.
Next year, as the government responds fully to Professor Munro’s review, there is a real opportunity to address the obstacles in the child protection system - obstacles which currently prevent children being reached and helped early enough to make an effective difference. It is vital that family support services are there for those in greatest need now, and that we move towards rebalancing the statutory framework to require local authorities to provide more low-cost, high-volume early intervention services, and consequently fewer high-cost services for those in acute need.
Action for Children will shortly be publishing a major review of child neglect in the UK, which reveals the gaps that currently exist in recognising and responding to child neglect, and making recommendations to government to improve how we help children at risk of, and experiencing, neglect.
We are launching the review on 24 January, 4-6pm, in the Terrace Marquee at the Commons, and all parliamentarians and researchers are welcome.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd