The Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership has published an interim strategy on Child Neglect.
The Strategy sets out how the partnership will work to recognise, prevent and reduce neglect to improve the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in Herefordshire. In order to achieve this, it is vital that neglect is prevented, recognised early and that all agencies involved in the care of children in Herefordshire work together and have a consistent, timely and appropriate response to a child considered to be at risk of physical harm, emotional neglect or abuse.
Neglect is a common reason for a child to be the subject of a child protection plan. Neglect exposes children to other forms of abuse e.g. child criminal exploitation, increasing their vulnerability, and it can be difficult to identify, making it hard for professionals to take action to protect a child. National research has also highlighted the damage done to children and young people living in situations of neglect. The harm resulting from intentional or unintentional neglect can be especially damaging in the first 18 months of life and can also have a cumulative impact across childhood and into adolescence.
The Neglect Strategy is underpinned by a Delivery Plan that is owned by HSCP and overseen by the HSCP Child Neglect Strategic Group.
Read the HSCP Neglect Strategy (Interim) 2021-23 here.