Neglect and serious case reviews (PDF, 735KB) - nspcc

Neglect and Serious Case Reviews
geNeral learNiNg poiNtS
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• Young people in care often feel compelled to go back home even if it means more
rejection. Once back home, young people and their families need a high level, intensive
support not a low level service. They also need to have their strengths recognised and
to have safer and more protected routes to adulthood and independence.
• At the age of 16 young people lose the protection of school and have no other protected
routes to adulthood and few routes out of a neglectful situation at home.
• Uncertainty from staff in universal services about whether the case warrants referral
to children’s social care can leave children who are neglected in any of the ways
described, at risk of death. Professional disagreement about the extent and impact of
neglect can allow over-optimism about parental capacity to dominate.
• Some adult and community services staff lack awareness of safeguarding and do
not make the connections between the parents’ difficulties and vulnerabilities and
the impact these have on their capacity to keep the children safe from potentially
predictable and preventable harm.
• When many agencies are involved there may be unclear lines of responsibility. In
these circumstances information is not brought together and analysed and new plans
are not made or followed through with sufficient energy.
• When families move it may be difficult to gain a full understanding of the family
history, for example a history of violence against a child.
• Parental hostility can keep professionals at bay and discourage them from following
up missed appointments.
• The worrying demeanour and development of one sibling can signal harm, including
physical harm, to another sibling – especially babies who are at the most vulnerable
age. Similarly, a history of neglectful care for older siblings can be a warning sign of
the pattern of care a new baby will receive.
• Failure to involve men/fathers as potentially protective influences who contribute to
children’s wellbeing.
• It is important for professionals to know the history of the child and family and to
take it seriously.
• Strong management support is needed to help practitioners manage, monitor and
think systematically about a case where neglect is, or might be an issue.