Ten Top Tips: Identifying Neglect
Ruth Gardner
Monday, June 13, 2011
Pat Beesley; British Association for Adoption and Fostering; ISBN 9781907585180; 7.95 + 2 p&p; 142pp
Ten Top Tips is a series that sets out to tackle fundamental issues in relation to fostering and adoption in a quick reference format. While social workers appear to be the intended readership, this book is also accessible to carers and adoptive parents.
The pocket-sized volume provides a useful introduction to a complex subject, including sections not only on identification of neglect, but on stages in the "care career" of the child from that point onwards. In addition, there are summary points with further reading and resources.
The section on recognition of unmet needs in a child covers most aspects of neglect and refers to children from pre-birth to adolescence as well as to children with disabilities. There is a substantial section on assessment with descriptions of a number of useful tools. The sections on how to prevent the neglect of children in public care and on preparing for legal action are thought-provoking.
Possibly the most helpful aspect of the book is its consistent emphasis on the child and the presence of the child in the form of direct quotes from young people and adults who have survived neglect.
There is less about what works and why — but as we see more practice focused on child neglect and more evaluation findings, that will hopefully change.
Ruth Gardner, head of strategy and development for neglect, NSPCC