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Neglect

What is Neglect?

As defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 Neglect is:

The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development.

Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a
child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:

• provide adequate food, clothing, and shelter (including exclusion from home or
abandonment)
• protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger
• ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate caregivers)
• ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment
• provide suitable education

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs

What to do if you think a child is suffering from neglect

If you have concerns about a child in Surrey who could be suffering from neglect contact Surrey’s Children’s Single Point of Access on 0300 470 9100 or call 999 in an emergency.

To learn more about neglect, visit the following sites:

NSPCC

Childline

Barnardos