Child neglect

Neglect

• 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) or
    
    
  • ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child's basic emotional needs

Reference

1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Child abuse and neglect. Oct 2017 [internet publication].