Over half (51%) of social workers, and a third of police officers (36%) report feeling 'powerless' to intervene in suspected cases of child neglect, according to a landmark report by children's charity, Action for Children.
The charity has found a worrying picture of neglected children getting trapped in, rather than caught by, the safety net in place to protect them, as teachers, health workers and nursery staff are increasingly aware of child neglect, yet unsure as to what to do.
Studies suggest that up to 10% of all children in the UK have experienced neglect.
Action for Children is calling for:
- The Government to help local areas improve data collection about the scale of neglect and the effectiveness of services.
- The Government to co-ordinate local services in order to encourage parents and the public to act early on concerns of neglect.
- The Government must increase children and families' access to effective early support services.
