Croydon Safeguarding Children Board Child Neglect Strategy 2019

Croydon Safeguarding Children Board Child Neglect Strategy 2019 -2021

CSCB Child Neglect Strategy Not being happy abandoned Not allowing a child to lead a good and healthy life When someone doesn’t take care of you in the way you should Being ignored Leaving someone alone Not treated right Not being helped Not giving children supervision they need

Challenges of Child Neglect • Professionals habituated to how • Lack of individual practice skills, knowledge and confidence relating child presenting recognition of neglect and whole • Rarely a crisis incident that demands to family needs immediate action • Need for effective collaborative joint • Spotting neglect beyond parent working and use of expertise across needs the partnership • Confidence to make judgement of • Need for policies to be well parental behaviours especially if understood and applied, including cultural, poverty or other thresholds, challenge and escalation vulnerabilities are present • Need for early identification and • Neglect may be experienced preventative intervention alongside other forms of abuse

Development of CSCB Child Neglect Strategy • Croydon Thematic Review of Neglect completed September 2018 • Neglect Task and Finish Group refreshed November 2018 • Croydon Early Help • Croydon Children’s Social Care • Croydon Health Services Trust • Croydon CCG • SLa. M • LA Education Representative • Croydon Housing • Croydon Adult Social Care

CSCB Child Neglect Strategy Our Vision The Croydon Safeguarding Children Board’s vision is to see, hear and help children affected by neglect at the earliest opportunity through providing the right kind of help at the right time; recognising and responding to Neglect, reducing repeat referrals and ending the cycle of neglect.

CSCB Child Neglect Strategy Seen Heard Helped Children at risk or experiencing neglect are seen The CSCB ensures that neglect is seen and understood through increased awareness of the needs of children at risk or experiencing neglect. Children at risk or experiencing neglect are heard That all safeguarding partners understand how neglect can be prevented through early recognition of neglect and use of the Croydon Early Help arrangements. Children at risk or experiencing neglect are helped The CSCB develops the quality and effectiveness of interventions to protect children and young people.

Delivery Seen Heard Helped Key Outcomes • New partnership neglect priority group • Community awareness and where to report/get help • Develop and monitor the Neglect • Child’s experiences being heard and responded to, Strategy Action Plan and understanding amongst parental and family vulnerabilities • Early recognition and response in referrals and § Awareness of risks, signs, symptoms and appropriate interventions language § Each organisation aware of how they can • Collaborative working to prevent neglect requiring contribute to prevention/response statutory interventions § Better data insight • Reduced number of children requiring child § Pro-active use of early help arrangements protection plan for neglect § Use of GCP 2 • Increased use of GCP 2 across all agencies and for § Improved whole family approach different levels of neglect § Timely and decisive action § Best practice guidance and tool • A confident and curious multi-agency workforce to § Culture and practice which is trauma recognise and respond to neglect informed