Neglect means that a child's needs for safety, physical care and love are not being met, to an extent that could cause them serious or lasting harm. Parental stress or ill-health, domestic abuse, substance or alcohol misuse, or parents' own experiences as a child can contribute to children not receiving adequate or even basic care to meet any of these needs. Often these situations are longstanding and not quickly resolved. It can be challenging for professionals to identify, measure and monitor neglect (Gardner, 2008).
There has been growing consensus, backed by a wide body of research (Allen, 2011; Munro, 2011; Chowdry & Oppenheim, 2015), that providing children and families with help before a problem emerges or at an early stage prevents children from suffering harm, improves their long-term outcomes and is more cost effective than reactive services.
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